 In 1814, Richard Sharpe and his second wife, Jane, are on bad terms over Sharpe's imminent duel with Captain Bampfylde, resulting from the latter's cowardice in the previous novel, "Sharpe's Siege".As duelling is illegal, Jane fears that Sharpe may lose either his life or his military career.She is keenly looking forward to the end of the war, and retirement to England, and to assuage her fears, Sharpe grants her power of attorney over the considerable sum of money he has lodged with his prize agent in London.