Part 1: Bautista, Chapter 1 Summary

Part one, chapter one opens with Sharpe on his farm in Normandy. A wealthy woman arrives in an expensive carriage. Sharpe recognizes the woman as the Countess of Mouromorto, who he first met many years ago when she was simply Louisa Parker.

While at Sharpe and Lucille's house, Louisa meets Lucille, who Sharpe introduces as the Vicomtesse de Seleglise, and Sharpe's two children, Patrick and Dominique. Louisa assumes Sharpe and Lucille are married, and Sharpe thinks about how he has a wife in London who he cannot afford to divorce.

Soon after arriving and meeting Sharpe's family, Louisa says that the reason she has come is to ask for Sharpe's help in finding her husband. Her husband had been sent to Chile to stop the rebellion against Spanish rule, and he has been reported missing. Neither the rebels or...