Captain John Staple's exploits in the Peninsula had earned him the sobriquet Crazy Jack amongst his fellows in the Dragoon Guards. Now home from Waterloo, life in peacetime is rather dull for the adventure-loving Captain. But when he finds himself lost at an unmanned toll-house in the Pennines, his soldiering days suddenly pale away beside an adventure - and romance - of a lifetime.

Born in 1902, Georgette Heyer was a highly private writer, never giving interviews or making public appearances. She was married in 1925 and had one son. She died in 1974.

Daniel Hill's theatre credits include the title role in Romeo and Juliet, the part of Norman in The Norman Conquests and touring nationally in Absurd Person Singular. He is a familiar face on television, having appeared in Doctor Who, Blake's 7, Minder, and Bergerac, and is probably best known for his portrayal of Harvey Bains in Waiting for God.