For generations Lady Diana de Vere’s family loyally served England’s crown. But after King Charles II’s untimely death, her father firmly opposes James II’s tyranny. Charles Beauclerk, Duke of St. Albans—the late king’s bastard son by actress Nell Gwyn—also rebels against his newly crowned uncle’s manipulation. Political and religious turmoil bring revolution and yet another coronation before Charles returns to from war to claim his promised bride. As companion to Queen Mary Stuart, Diana has followed her de Vere forbears into royal service. She expects Charles to abandon his military career after marriage, but he proves unwilling to join the ranks of the courtiers he despises and mistrusts.
     In palace corridors and within their own household the young duke and duchess confront betrayals, scandals, and tragedies that threaten to divide them. And neither the privileges of birth nor proximity to the throne can ensure their security, their advancement—or their happiness.

(Includes Book Group Discussion Guide)

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"Porter’s ambitious novel of 17th-century England is brimming with vivid historical figures and events . . . rigorously researched and faithfully portrayed.” Publishers Weekly

"A true delight for fans of monarchy. . . Porter does a sensational job portraying the time period and showing how time passed and England was ever changing. . . the relationship between Charles and Diana in A Pledge of Better Times is complex and interesting." The Examiner

"The remarkable figure of Lady Diana de Vere stands at the center of Margaret Porter’s sumptuous, wonderful new novel . . . Porter winningly captures both the dramatic societal upheavals and the sparkling wit and court life of the time, especially in the character of Lady Diana, a wonderful fictional creation. It is a very rewarding reading experience – I highly recommend it.” Historical Novels Review

"A richly evocative peek into a world long gone and yet very familiar to modern readers, with political and ideological maneuvering and romantic entanglements not so different than today's . . . Porter explores friendship, marriage, parenthood, and loyalty as she tells the story of people who were celebrities in their time, and she illuminates the soft power aristocratic women had, if they were allowed to wield it.” New Hampshire Sunday News

"Marvelously detailed . . . a rich and unique perspective on the times. A must-read for any Stuart-era fan." ~~ Rebecca Henderson Palmer

"Meticulously researched . . . an impressive cast of real-life characters brought to vibrant life. Margaret Porter crafts her story with exquisite detail, transporting the reader into a world full of intrigue, scandal, and breathtaking danger . . . a masterful writer.” ~~ Award-winning author M. Reed McCall

"With elegant prose and vivid detail, A Pledge of Better Times sweeps you into late Stuart England." Marci Jefferson, author of Enchantress of Paris and Girl on the Golden Coin

"A portrait of Diana de Vere as rich as the portraits that grace British museums and palaces.” Christy K Robinson, author of Mary Dyer Illuminated

"The sparkling, dangerous, enticing post-Restoration period comes to vivid life! I couldn't stop reading!" Amanda Carmack, of Murder in the Queen's Garden: An Elizabethan Mystery

Links to interviews about this novel:

Margaret Porter on Writing Historical Fiction

Author's Inspiration: A Pledge of Better Times