Clare Darcy: Victoire

Victoire is the last book by Clare Darcy that Allan Kass illustrated. This copy was published by Signet in June 1975. Darcy wrote 2 earlier books for Dell: Cecily and Georgina, but these were not illustrated by Kass.

Victoire Duvenay is determined to shine in Regency London as she plans to teach a lesson of love to the Marquis of Tarn, a man who broke the heart of her cousin!

Allan Kass illustrates our couple as they relax in a drawing room. Our heroine is comfortable sitting on a window seat. She wears a gravity defying dress of gold and carries beautiful accessories of a fan and shawl. I really like her gold bracelets and pendant. Our hero holds a book as he looks on. It's a gorgeous cover and captures the feel of the time period!

Clare Darcy: Rolande

Rolande is next in our Clare Darcy lineup of Allan Kass illustrated books. This book was published by Signet in March 1979. Rolande is a story of a girl who is an actress who is hired to impersonate a lost heir. She falls into a lot of danger and realizes that she'd rather not impersonate this lost youth, but be herself and be loved by Jasper Carrington, who hired her!

Allan Kass illustrates our couple at a party. Our heroine is dressed as a female and wears a pretty combination of plum and silver. Our hero is wearing black formal wear and leans over the edge of the intricate bench that our heroine sits upon. Again, note Allan's detail in the background of the cover. You can click and enlarge the picture!

Clare Darcy: Regina

Regina was published by Signet in January 1978 for Clare Darcy. Regina is a widow who is trying to protect her niece from entering a ruinous marriage such as she was in. She steps in between her niece and Lord Wrexam to interesting conclusions!

Allan Kass illustrates our couple dancing in a ballroom. It's a pretty picture and both people seem pleased with one another. I like seeing the other people dancing in the background and the detail that Allan gives to the furnishings and dress. These are some of Allan's early regency covers and I hope that you enjoy them.

Clare Darcy: Lydia

Lydia is next in our lineup of books by Clare Darcy illustrated by Allan Kass! Signet published this book in September 1974. Lydia is an American who is planning on marrying for wealth and position all while she is trying to keep her grandmother from bankruptcy and her brother from making bad choices! During this time, she meets many suitors but can't keep Viscount Northover out of her mind!

Allan Kass shows our couple in an elegant sitting room. Our heroine wears a creamy beige gown that blends in with the decor. Our hero is handsome in black and besides the imposing fireplace, we see a picture of an officer on the wall! Sorry for the poor picture quality; my book looks as if it's been well read!

Clare Darcy: Letty

Letty was published in June 1981 for Clare Darcy by Signet. Letty runs away from an arranged marriage into the arms of Harry Tyne, who is a gentleman, but a gambler. He proposes to turn Letty into an enchantress and win a fortune, if he can only not fall in love with her, himself!

Allan Kass illustrates our couple in an elegant room. Our heroine lounges on a sofa, her blue day dress blending in with the blue of the sofa. Our hero stand behind and looks older than I would imagine the hero of this story to be! I like the effect of her pearl necklace as its being off center helps pose our heroine as lounging!

Clare Darcy: Lady Pamela

Lady Pamela by Clare Darcy was published by Signet in January 1977. She is a unconventional lady that is creating havoc in Regency London! No one, not even her fiance, can tame her. When Lord Dalven arrives on the scene, Lady Pamela falls in love and the fun begins!

Allan Kass creates an elegant illustration to this book. Our couple stand in a room that contains interesting furniture and artifacts. Our heroine is conventionally dressed in a pink gown and carries a white shawl. Our hero is handsome in black. What is interesting to me is the statue in the niche on the wall and the elegant Wedgwood detailing on the wall. Allan does a superb job of creating a setting for our couples.

Clare Darcy: Gwendolen

Gwendolen is next from Clare Darcy. Signet published this paperback in September 1979. Gwendolen fell in love and got quickly engaged to Captain Henry Belville of the navy. Now that he has been away, she doubts whether she really loves him and the romances of her sisters complicate the matter along with a handsome new Lord on the scene!

Allan Kass illustrates our couple in front of a fireplace. Our couple seem very taken with one another. Our heroine's pink gown has some interesting decoration. The carving of the goddess on the fireplace seems the most striking aspect of this cover. These past covers remind me of the ones that Allan did for Georgette Heyer's Berkley romances.

Clare Darcy: Eugenia

Eugenia was published in June 1978 and is the story of said titled lady who is on the marriage market and is being advised by everyone around her what to do! However, she plans to pursue true love at any cost.

Allan Kass creates a grand illustration for this book. We see our couple in a very decorated room with a peacock tapestry on the wall and our hero standing by an ornate clock on an equally ornate marble topped table! Our heroine lounges on a couch nearby. She is dressed in a simple white muslin, but wears a gold shawl and necklace. This would be another of Allan's earlier regency covers and I hope that you enjoy it!

Clare Darcy: Elyza

Elyza is next in line, being published by Signet in July 1977 for Clare Darcy. Dressed as a young man, Elyza is rescued from a cruel innkeeper by Cleve Redmayne and she realizes that she doesn't have to settle for a dull and boring marriage!

Allan Kass illustrates Brighton UK on this cover. We see our couple strolling in a park and the Prince Regent's Royal Pavilion in the background! Our heroine wears a sunny summer dress and carries a matching parasol. Our hero blends into the scene in his green jacket and I like how he casually holds the heroine's hand.

John Nash redesigned the Royal Pavilion building in an Indian theme. The inside decorations are mainly influenced by Indian and Chinese designs. George IV, formerly the Prince Regency wanted a house in Brighton from where he could visit the seaside. Queen Victoria sold it to the city in the 1850's.

Clare Darcy: Cressida

Cressida by Clare Darcy is next in our Allan Kass illustrated book cover lineup! This book was published by Signet in October 1978. Cressida is the darling of London society, but she is waiting for Captain Rossiter, who broke off their engagement 6 years ago, to return and once he does, she is determined to win him once again!

Allan Kass shows our couple in a vibrant room. Our heroine is dressed in an olive green day dress and shares a tender moment with the hero, who is dressed in traditional black jacket and buff colored pantaloons. Note the red watch fob off of his trousers. I like the detail of the heroine's jewelry, especially her bracelets and earrings.

Clare Darcy's books are some of the first that Signet published along with other authors: Joan Wolf, Catherine Coulter, Sandra Heath, and Vanessa Gray. Allan Kass illustrated a lot of their books, too!

Clare Darcy: Caroline and Julia

January 1983 saw the Signet publication of Caroline and Julia by Clare Darcy. Caroline, an orphan, moves in with Julia, a sophisticated London widow. They help each other weave through the maze that is London Society and find husbands!

Allan Kass illustrates both of our heroines and their heroes on this cover. They stand in a music room and our heroine in pink carries a fan and is dressed for the evening's activities. The hero behind her holds a glove and has a hand in a pocket, which is unusual. The other couple stand closer and seem more attached to each other! I like the instruments along with the paintings and porcelain on the table. It's a very busy cover!

Clare Darcy: Allegra

Allegra is the first book Allan Kass illustrated for Clare Darcy. We will see 12 different covers over the next days for the different novels that Darcy wrote and Kass illustrated!

Allegra was published in February 1976 by Signet and is the story of a feisty lady who shocks Regency London by not accepting the hand of her distant, wealthy cousin and then travels to Brussels on the eve of Waterloo!

Allan Kass shows our couple dancing at a ball. Maybe this was the famous ball in Brussels before the Battle of Waterloo! Our hero and heroine move elegantly down the room while we see the musicians play and others watch. I really like the detail on his jacket and her headdress! It's too bad that it's not a full cover illustration, but I hope that you enjoy it and the others to come!