After saving the life of Sir Arthur Wellesley, Sgt Richard Sharpe is rewarded with the field commission of Lieutenant. His first mission is to go behind enemy lines to Casa Antiga to locate a missing agent, James Rothschild, who carries a banker's draft for badly needed funds for the British army.

Spain 1809 - Colonel Sir Henry Simmerson arrives with his new regiment, the South Essex, and Wellesley decides to keep in Simmerson's good graces by arranging for the South Essex to blow up the bridge at Valdelacasa. Aware that Simmerson is incompetent, Wellesley orders Sgt Richard Sharpe to see that the mission is a success in exchange for a promotion to captain.

Spain 1812 - After victory at Ciudad Rodrigo, Wellesley (now Duke of Wellington) sets his sights on Badajoz. Sharpe is reunited with Teresa and learns that he is the father of a baby girl, but is alarmed to learn that the baby is in Badajoz.

Portugal 1812 - The Spanish village of Adrados has been overtaken by a horde of French, Spanish and British deserters and they have taken two English women hostage, Sarah Dubreton and Lady Isabella Farthingdale. Captain Sharpe is assigned the task of delivering the ransom, much to the disgust of Sir Augustus Farthingdale.

1813 - A grieving Sharpe is challenged to a duel by a Spanish Marques who demands an apology for him having forced his attentions on his wife. Sharpe protests that he has never met La Marquesa and is innocent of any wrongdoing, refusing to apologise.

Summer 1813 - An angry Sharpe goes in search of the British infantry who failed to prevent the French retreat from a recent battle. He discovers that the infantry men are deserting and is unable to prevent their retreat.