Disclaimer: These are works of fan-fiction created for entertainment. It is not the intention of the author to infringe on anyone's copyright. No rights infringement intended. Warning: General Audience

The Sharpe Fan Fictions of Paul K.

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Bernard Cornwell’s

SHARPE’S Justice

Richard Sharpe and the
Peace of the Congress of Vienna

Screenplay Written by Patrick Harbinson and Bernard Cornwell.
Novel Adapted by Paul Kaster

PART TWO

1814 CHRISTMAS DAY

Chapter 10
KEIGHLEY
,

Christmas morning was another clear day. The village is busy with people gathering the goose, chickens, ducks and other foods for their Christmas dinner. It is a good day to walk.

Sharpe and Harper follow Skipton Road to the visit the orphanage workhouse. Sharpe hopes he can find the girl that was here twenty years ago. He remembers that she helped him, but does not remember her name. As she was friends with Truman and him, maybe she can help him to find Truman.

The workhouse is on the west side of the road adjacent, but behind the church. It is built more like a prison. The walls are two floors tall. There are windows only on the second floor. Each has shutters that are closed. To enter, you must ring the bell at the main door of two for someone to let you in. . The entrance is two doors to permit wagons to come and go.

Harper notices the bell. “Shall I give it a good tug?”

Sharpe nods.

Shortly, the door swings open. A short man with greying hair pokes his head out the door.

“Yes”

Harper jovially greets him. “I am Mr. Harper. This,” he turns to Sharpe. “Is Major Sharpe. We hope you can help us find someone.”

The man looks at them, then connects the names. “Sharpe and Harper?! You captured the Eagle at Tallyvera!”

Harper beams. “Aye, we did too.”

Please come in. “I am the Reverend Mr. Whitbread. I have charge of the children here.” Whitbread is adorned all in black. They couldn’t see earlier that he has the white collar of a vicar.

“How may I help you?”

Sharpe notices that there are a few children playing in the yard.

“We are looking for a woman who was here twenty years ago. She may still be here in Keighley or gone on to another village in the area.”

“A fire alas A year after taking this hall, sir.”

“Sadly the means of tracing anyone were destroyed in it.” Sharpe turns to Pat. Before he can say anything, Mr. Whitbread speaks up, “I was thinking sir, Even if we are not successful finding the records, I was wondering if you would spare the time for an address. To the children.”

“One who has made his way in the world. Who has achieved success. Even renowned. Dare I say.” He beams

Harper whispers in Sharpe’s ear, “I think that’ll be grand. You say a few inspiring words to the poor little bastards. And, You’ll have every one following in your footsteps. Every one a hero.”

Sharpe spits back at him. “And have one half poxed and fever ridden. The other half dead before they’re 20. The best die first. Those that stand up bravest.”

Sharpe is ready to go. “Mr. Whitbread. What have you prepared for the children to eat for this holiday?

“Major Sharpe, alas, we have no additional funds to feed the tykes other than the same meals as every day.”

“Mr. Whitbread, if you will agree, I’d like to arrange for chicken stew for the children for their evening meal. If you agree, Mr. Arnold will deliver it for them.”

“Aye, Major Sharpe! The children will be so happy. We welcome your gift.”

“Then we will be off to tell Mr. Arnold.”

Harper has listened to Sharpe and smiles. He knows Sharpe has a soft spot for children. He has seen it with others and when he has been around his own son.

Sharpe and Harper turn to leave. Before they can walk through the gate a woman chases them..

“Richard! Richard!”

“Tis you isn’t it. You remember me, don’t you? Sally. Sally Bunting. I used to work in kitchen. I used to sew your clothes when you were at the coaching inn.. You ran away. I stayed here. I knew you’d come back. I just wished it’d been sooner.”

“Sally? Bunty?” Sharpe recognizes her as the girl he was trying to find.

“Aye. That’s what you used to call me. You and Matthew.”

“You still see Matthew?”

“Aye. little bit. what he does for the people here. They think he’s a hero.”

“What do you think?”

“I think he’s a hero too. You should meet him. You could be friends again.”

“Can never be friends. If I meet him again, it will be to arrest him.”

“Ahh Richard.”

Harper clears his throat.

“Sorry Sal.”

This is my friend, former Sgt Major Harper. Now, Mr. Patrick Harper, esquire.” He winks at Pat.

“Pat. Miss Sally Bunting.”

“Pleased to meet you ma’am.”

“Sharpe and Sgt 'arper . Mr. Whitbread used to read to us from the papers about you.Vitoria, Talavera, Badajoz, Salamanca.”

Harper turns from Sally to Sharpe.

“I didn’t know we made the papers.”

“Well you’d have to read for that Pat.”

Harper looks to Sally and says sweetly. “See he’s a cruel and mocking man. Miss Bunting. And me after carrying him safe and sound through all the blood and slaughter.”

Sharpe wants to leave so he interrupts Harper.

“So you’re still here.”

“Aye, I’m matron now.”

“Why did you come back, Richard?”

“The army sent me here to Keighley. I didn’t like how they treated the children here before. I wanted to see if it was any better.”

“What do you think?”

“Buildings look no different than before. Maybe a little more shabby.”

Sharpe notices that Mr. Whitbread has come out leading the children.

Harper watches Sharpe then says to Sally, “You know, he doesn’t deserve either of us, miss”

The children are brought outside.

Sharpe looks at them, then to Sally and Whitbread.

“Who supports you to care for these?”

Whitbread offers, “We depend on the church and the generosity of benevolent neighbors.”

“How much do you get paid for laundry, sewing and firewood? He notices that there are stacks of cord that the boys have cut.

“We are paid by the piece. The money goes into the general fund.”

“And, how much do you skim from the funds before you use them for the children?”

Sally says, “Mr Whitbread keeps all the books proper Richard. He takes not a penny from the children. He is paid by the bishop’s office. I seen the books.”

“Mr. Whitbread, must be an unusual man. Those that ran this place when Sally you was much younger, skimmed half of what was given for themselves. The kids never did get to see much for them. .”

“When I was an orphan in London, we were lucky to get a quarter of what the owner was receiving.”

“Well Richard, I heard you tell Mr. Whitbread that you will give them a feast dinner. At least someone is trying to do right by these kids. They have so little. And no families. Thank you .”

“Just make sure that Arnold gives them the stew and not Mr. Whitbread and his family.”

“Aye Richard, I’ll make sure.”

“Merry Christmas Sally.”

“Merry Christmas Richard.”

“Merry Christmas, Miss Bunting.”

“And to you Mr 'arper.”



THE KING’S INN



As Sharpe walks through the parlour, Ben Arnold approaches him.

“I’ve taken your lady some rum punch.”

“What lady?”

“She was fatigued after the long journey. I offered her the best parlour, but she desired your quarters.”

“Please call if you need anything more sir.”

“I will. Mr. Arnold, please take the chicken stew to the orphanage as we agreed. Miss Sally Bunting waits for you. She will have a place ready to serve the children.”

“Aye.”

Sharpe goes to his room. He opens the door wondering who will be inside. He is cautious that it may be Jane.

Seated in the only chair is Lady Anne Camoyne. She greets him warmly.

“Major Sharpe”

“My lady.”

“Are you surprised to see me?”



“I am.”

“And pleased I trust?”

“Why are you here, ma’am?”

“This room, Richard. Not the most .... commodious.”

“Why are you here my lady?”

“I am concerned for you, why else?”

Sharpe hadn’t expected this answer.

“Why are you concerned for me?”

“Well for one, your wife is being topped by another man.”

“I know about Rossendale.”

“He was your friend, I thought.”

“He was.”

“You have not come this far, only to tell me this.”

Coyly she offers, “Perhaps I came only to see you.”

Sharpe is always uncomfortable around Lady Anne. She has been raised to easily move within the circles of the wealthy and entitled. Sharpe comes from the streets. While she has been courteous to him, he always feels like she is talking down to him.

“I do not believe so, My lady could have any one she chose.”

“My lady chose once and the man she chose was looking elsewhere.”

“Do you know why you are here?”

“It was orders. Why else should I…”

Anne modifies the facts about how Sharpe was assigned to the Yeomanry. “It was Rossendale.”

“Rossendale? Why should…?

“to get me out of London so he could enjoy my wife and my money in peace.”

“Richard.”

Anne kisses him.

Sharpe does not return her kiss. She looks at him, disappointed.

“Richard: I’m sorry.”

“Have you fallen for another servant girl, Major Sharpe.”

Sharpe flatly tells her. “There is another woman. Lucille. Lucille Castineau. She has a farm in Normandy. Her brother was killed, so…”

“By you?”

Sharpe still feels regret that Lucille’s brother was killed by Ducos in the scheme to steal Napoleon’s treasure.

“Because of me.”

“So, you took the farm and you took her. How chivalrous.”

Sharpe stands still. He is hurt by this statement. He has always tried to do the right thing by women. He has always treated Lady Anne as he thought a gentleman should. She chose him first. After she bedded him, she understood that he was not like the ‘peacocks’ that she had to deal with at court.

After pondering what Sharpe has told her.

“A French girl?” She says with a heavy tone of sarcasm. “That would go down well at Horse Guards.”

Sharpe offers one of the feelings that he has come to while he has been living with the people in Normandy.

“The war is over, ma’am.”

“And you are faithful to Lucille.”

Sharpe doesn’t answer, but she can see by Sharpe’s posture that he is.

Anne, collects her things, looks to Sharpe to see if he will ask her to stay. When he doesn’t, she leaves the room.

As she goes, he tries to recover so that she will stay. “Lady Anne…”

Anne ignores him and continues to walk slowly down the stairs and out of the inn.

Sharpe watches her go. Why is it that he has such trouble talking with Anne. Well, he has that trouble with any of the aristocracy. Yet, he has been able to sit amid Wellington’s generals on a night in Portugal when they celebrated his promotion. He was able to talk with all his division commanders, even the difficult Robert Crauford. They shared the talk of the battles and the men with whom they have served.

And with women, after a difficult beginning, he was able to talk with his wife Teresa. And, now Lucille. But they talk about things that they share. With Teresa, it was fighting the French and their daughter. With Lucille, it is about the farm and what they will have as a future. What do Lady Anne and he have that is of common interest? Why does he care that he is able to talk with Lady Anne? Perhaps he just needs to rest. He is being distracted from learning about the Yeomanry and the activities of the machinebreakers.

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