On a visit to her ailing brother in London, Jane Austen crosses paths with the chaplain to His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, who invites her to tour the Prince's fabulous home. Clarke is a fan of Jane's books, and during the tour he suggests she dedicate her next novel - Emma - to HRH, whom she despises. However, before she can speak to HRH, Jane stumbles upon a body sprawled on the carpet in the Regent's library. He utters a single failing phrase: 'Waterloo map'. Jane is on the hunt for a treasure of incalculable value and a killer of considerable cunning.
