[3][4] Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Sharpe, in command of the Prince of Wales' Own Volunteers, is tasked by the Duke of Wellington to precede the main British army into France and rescue a prisoner from the citadel in the commune of Ham.

Despite Fox's insistence on secrecy, Sharpe informs his lover, Lucille Castineau, of his mission; she passes on a request from her host, the Dowager Countess of Maubeuges, to evict deserters who have occupied her Parisian mansion.

Collingnon had given up two names — General Delaunay and Colonel Lanier — and Fox leaves to find and question one of the men alone, over Sharpe's objections.

Fearing that the warehouse is known to La Fraternité, he takes his men to the dowager countess's mansion and attacks in the middle of the night, killing some deserters and evicting the survivors.

Sharpe questions Madame Delaunay, who confesses that La Fraternité was formed by her husband from loyalist soldiers to avenge Napoleon if he were killed in battle.

Sharpe returns with Harper to the vineyard the next morning and discovers an entire infantry battalion stationed there, commanded by Colonel Lanier.

One year later, Sharpe, retired to his and Lucille's farm in Normandy, receives a letter from Harper informing him of the birth of his son, Richard.