Jean Merrill: The Girl from the Diadem

The Girl from the Diadem by Jean Merrill is an Edwardian Romance that was published by Fawcett in 1978. Belle Barclay's career in the theater was tanking and a job offered by the Earl of Orsett to pose as his girlfriend in order to win the wife of his choosing by making his uncle relent. Belle accepts but finds out that her real opponent is Orsett's handsome uncle!

Allan Kass did a few Edwardian covers, so each is a treat. This one shows our couple outside in a purple sunset standing near a pagoda.  Our heroine is playing coy while the hero is handsome in his silver dinner jacket. Also, note her topknot hairdo.