In 1805, Richard Sharpe is to sail to England from India aboard the East Indiaman Calliope to join the 95th Rifles.

Chase wants to show his gratitude, but is under orders to destroy a French 74 named the Revenant that is raiding the Indian Ocean.

When Lady Grace gets up to leave, a sudden movement of the ship causes her to stumble, and Sharpe ends up with his arm around her waist.

Malachi Braithwaite, Lord Hale's secretary, finds out and is angered, as he is attracted to Lady Grace too.

Sharpe suspects both Cromwell and Pohlmann aided the French; both men board the Revenant.

Later, the lieutenant in charge tries to rape Lady Grace; Sharpe goes to her rescue and kills the Frenchman in a swordfight.

Chase confides to Sharpe that a French agent, probably Dornberg's "servant", negotiated a secret treaty with the ablest of the Indian Maratha leaders.

If it is delivered to Paris, the French might send arms to the Marathas to start a new war against the British.

Sharpe trains with the marines for shipboard fighting and is introduced to a seven-barreled Nock gun (a weapon which future friend Patrick Harper will favour).

One night, Lady Grace hesitantly informs Sharpe that she is pregnant with his child, unsure of his reaction.

When the British attack the enemy fleet, commencing the Battle of Trafalgar, Chase points out the Revenant to Sharpe.