简介：England,Summer1814 Thewarisover,NapoleonisinexileonElba,andSharpereturnstoEngland.HeacceptsapostingtoScarsdale,Yorkshire,thetownwherehegrewup,toheadtheprivatemilitiaraisedbySirWilloughbyParfitt,aself-mademan.HeistoprotectParfitt'smillsfroma'rebellious'population.AtthecentreofthetroubleisamancalledMattTruman,whoSharpegrewupwith. InLondon,Janeisfindinglifeasamistressdifficult.Sheisshunnedbysociety,includingLadyAnneCarmoynes(onceamistressherself).InYorkshire,SharpeandHarperaremetbythelocalyeomanryandtheircommander,Capt.Wickham.OntheirwaytoParfitt'shome,SharpeandHarperrealisetheyarebeingfollowed.SharpeshootsonepursuerandcornerstheotherwhomherecognisesasMattTruman. ParfittblamesTrumanforthelocalunrest.Atdinner,thatevening,anothermillowner,SirPercyStanwyck,ispresent.Stanwyckissoontotakedeliveryofasteamengine,somethingthatwillgiveParfittcompetition.StanwyckhasheardofSharpefromhisson,whodiedshortlyafterTalavera.AlsoinScarsdaleisDanHagman,outofthearmyandlookingforwork.HejoinsTruman.RossendaleandJanearealsotheretoviewapropertythatRossendalehasinherited. PartofSharpe'sjobistobreakupillegalmeetings.Whentheyareinformedofone,SharpetellsWickhamtoarrestTrumanwithoutlossoflife.Wickhamdisobeys,Trumanescapes,butthereisamassacre.SharpeandHarperareappalled,evenHagmanturnsawayfromthem.LaterSharpebelievesthereisaplottoputStanwyckoutofbusinessandheandHarperthwartit.AfteranunpleasantmeetingwithJane,HarperreturnstoIrelandbutwherecanSharpefindjustice?…