June, 1813.
Major Richard Sharpe's men are in mortal danger - not from the French, but from the bureaucrats of Whitehall. Unless reinforcements can be brought from England, the depleted South Essex will be disbanded, their troops scattered throughout the army. Determined not to see his regiment die, Sharpe returns to England and uncovers a nest of well-bred, high-ranking traitors, any one of whom could utterly destroy his career with a word, or a stroke of the pen. Sharpe is forced into the most desperate gamble of his life - and not even the influence of the Price Regent may be enough to save him.
Major Richard Sharpe
Sergeant Major Patrick Harper
Jane Gibbons
Colonel Sir Henry Simmerson
Lord Simon Fenner
Lady Anne Camoynes
Major General Hector Ross
Lieutenant Colonel Bartholomew Girdwood
The Prince Regent
Sergeant Horatio Havercamp
Rifleman Daniel Hagman
Rifleman Harris
Charlie Weller
Giles Marriott
Sergeant John Lynch
Maggie Joyce
The Honourable William Lawford
Captain Hamish Smith
Captain Carline
Lord John Rossendale
Sergeant Ted Carew
Yokel
Sir Barstan Maxwell
Mrs. Grey
Doctor