This is the second book in the Burgundy Club series.
Lady Diana Fanshawe, a widow, has longed for the handsome, golden haired Lord Blakeney for many years, and hopes he will one day ask her to marry him. But then she meets his cousin, Mr Sebastian Iverley, who is in direct constrast of Blakeney. With ill fitting country style clothes, glasses, a booklover and no interest in women, Diana is puzzled by him. What Diana doesn't know, is Sebastian and Blakeney don't get along, as Blakeney was often cruel to Sebastian as a child for his 'odd' ways. Blakeney makes a bet with Diana to make Sebastian kiss her. She agrees, even though she has no need of the money, so she agrees to give it to charity if she wins. Throughout their interactions, Sebastian finds himself falling in love with Diana, and after sharing a kiss, wants to marry her. But before he asks, he overhears Blakeney discussing his bet with Diana, and immediately feels a fool. He leaves and returns to his own home after hearing of his uncle's ill health. When his uncle dies, he inherits the title and becomes Viscount Iverley. He starts wearing better fitted clothes and vows to return to Diana, make her fall in love with him and cast her aside. In the time he's absent, Diana worries he left because he found out about the bet. She is amazed when she Sebastian returns to find him with title and with a changed appearance. Ladies begin to show an interest, and Diana is upset when Sebastian seems to ignore her. But it is all part of Sebastian's tactics to get her attention. He even stages a robbery, acting the hero when the highwayman threatens to shoot. This makes Diana realise his importance to her and makes herself available to him. But when they sleep together, Diana is shocked at his coldness to her afterwards, and then he informs her he knows of the bet, calling them even. He disappears, leaving Diana both heartbroken and wanting revenge herself. She believes what he did was worse than stealing a kiss. Her sister and Sebastian's relatives (not Blakeney) learn of Sebastian's behaviour and offer their support. She tells her sister she will get back at Sebastian, but deep down, she's already in love with him. After accepting a marriage proposal from Blakeney, she buys an ancient book she knows Sebastian has long wanted. When she meets Sebastian, she flaunts the book in front of him and says she will give it as a gift to her husband. He wonders if she wants him to propose, and is considering it now he regrets his actions. She announces she's marrying Blakeney, and his hatred returns. But she later discovers she's pregnant with Sebastian's baby and knowing she cannot marry Blakeney, finds Sebastian and tells him they must marry unless he wants a bastard child. When they grow closer, Sebastian tells her everything about his past and why he'd initially been against women.
Overall, the book was amazing. I absolutely loved Sebastian Iverley throughout, even with his odd clothes and glasses. I've not read any other books by this author, but I know I will. I hope we find out more about them in the third book in the series, which is due out soon.
5/5
