Major Richard Sharpe's men are in mortal danger, not from the French, but from the bureaucrats of Whitehall Unless reinforcements are brought from England, the depleted South Essex will be disbanded and the men scattered throughout the army Determined not to see his regiment die, Sharpe returns to England and uncovers a nest of wellbred high ranking traitors, any one of whom could destroy him with a word or stroke of the pen He is forced into the most desperate gamble of his life and not even the Prince Regent's influence may be enough to save him