

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
