Dear Bernard, I am working my through all your books, I'm currently on Harlequin, but my favourite of all is Sharpe. I apologise if you've already been asked this - you've said before that you didn't intend Sharpe to end up with Lucille, but did you have any idea when you first wrote about Jane that she would be such a ***** or did she just evolve that way? by the way, have you ever heard of Waterlooville, in Hampshire, where I work? If you look it up in Wikipedia they quote a nice legend (fact??) about soldiers returning from Waterloo.
Hazel
I think I knew from the start that Jane was a Mistake, but I didn't know what shape the mistake would take . . . . well, a very nice shape, just a disaster. So, yes, I knew she was not a wise choice, but she evolved anyway, poor girl.
I do know Waterlooville! And I guess you're referring to the story of soldiers returning from the battle, collapsing into the pub for a drink and never leaving? I hope that's true!