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The Sharpe Fan Fictions of Paul K.

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Bernard Cornwell’s

SHARPE’S banquet

Richard Sharpe and the
Waterloo Banquet


Novel by Paul Kaster

1822 June 13

Chapter 3
London
Nerot Hotel




May had passed quickly for Sharpe. Lucille and his children made a special meal and day for him to celebrate his birthday. Friends from the town came to join them at their farm. He ate his favorite foods. Drank a little. When the sun set, he said farewell to the townspeople, hugged the children and retired with Lucille so that he would be rested for the trip. However, Lucille had other plans.

The next morning he had traveled to Cherbourg, took the packet ship to Portsmouth and then a coach to London. The Nerot hotel had a room waiting for him.

“Colonel Sharpe, welcome to the Nerot Hotel.” The clerk at the desk greeted him.

“Mr. Sharpe, only, thank you.”

“Mr. Sharpe, we have your room ready. You requested to stay until the morning of June 19.”

“Yes.”

“Lord Lawford has extended your stay until the 20th, sir.”

“The 20th, did he say why?”

“No sir, but he left a message for you. And, there is a message from a Lady Anne Camoynes for you as well.”

Sharpe took the two messages, hefted his pack, then climbed the stairs to his room.

“Lady Anne?” he wonders how she knew that he was coming to London and why she sent a message.

He unloaded his pack, shook the uniform garments out to hang and then sat in one of the two chairs in the room.

He opened the message from Lawford first.


My Dear Sharpe,

I hope that you find the Nerot to your liking. I took the liberty to add two more days to your stay. My wife and I wish to extend the chance for you to join us after the Duke’s party. We have reached out to some of your friends to join us as well. Captain Chase is unable to join us until the 20th. I have asked Lady Anne Camoynes and Sir Alan Lewrie too. Finally, Patrick Harper will come.

For some of us, we have not seen you for some time. It will be a pleasure to gather once again while we are all collected here in London. Please say yes that you will stay.

“A second dinner? How did I become so popular? But, since I am here. And I do have these as friends, I should stay. I’ll send to Lucille so that she does not worry.”

He opened Anne’s note second.


My Dear Sharpe,

It is too long since you have visited London. I invite you to join Sir Alan Lewrie (I will explain at dinner) and me for an early dinner on June 14th at Dolly´s Chop House. I wish to hear of your recent adventures in India and South America as well as the latest of Lucille and your children. I will assume that you will join us and meet you at the Nerot at 7 o’clock.

Yours truly, Lady Anne Camoynes.


Sharpe finished reading and thought long about Anne’s note.

Lady Anne and I have been good help to each other. I secured documents that she was able to use to release her from Lord Fenner’s control. She helped me to secure the replacements to rebuild the South Essex and to prevent it being broken down to a detachment. Again, she gave information and assistance to clear my name with the Yeomanry and the Keighley Massacre. Although she appeared jealous of me with Jane and Lucille, when we met last before Waterloo, she seemed to have new interests instead of me.

She does seem eager for me to meet this Lewrie.

“What harm can come of having dinner at a public house and with another man present?”

“Besides, I have four days before Wellington’s dinner. What else will I do?”

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