For Better For Worse

‘That was me,’ she said quickly.

‘You broke into your own dresser?’

‘Yes. I was looking for money,’ said Annie. She glanced towards Henry and noted his look of disapproval. ‘I wanted to go and visit my husband in prison and I knew he kept money in the drawer.’

‘Why not use the key?’

‘My husband had the key.’

‘Were you looking for money, or perhaps you thought that with your husband in custody you could help yourself to a watch or a necklace or two?’

‘No!’ cried Annie desperately. In the public gallery her mother stood up to leave.

‘M’lord,’ Mr Collingwood protested. ‘Mrs Royal isn’t on trial here.’

‘It is my client’s contention that she drove him to steal, to satisfy her constant demands for more money.’

‘That’s not true!’ Annie cried helplessly. ‘I never did that.’

‘Proceed with another line of questioning, Mr Hounsome,’ said the judge.

Mr Hounsome pressed her on other matters; her negligible social life, the loss of friendships and her lack of contact with her parents; all, he suggested, was the result of Annie wanting to have Henry to herself. She protested heatedly that everything he’d said was so negative and blatantly untrue. Annie could hardly believe her ears and although she tried to keep ahead of what he was saying, the questions came so thick and fast it gave her no time to think. But one thing she understood all too clearly; he was implying that somehow Henry’s plight was her fault.

When Mr Hounsome finally sat down, Annie had told the truth, but she had a sinking feeling that she had only made matters worse. In his defence, Mr Collingwood had her tell everyone what an excellent husband Henry was and how well he looked after her. She told them of her shock when meeting the first Mrs Royal and how she was convinced that there had been a ghastly mistake – but it was to no avail. She could tell from the stern faces of the jury that she had done little to help Henry and that she had probably sullied her own reputation to boot. She left the witness box with a heavy heart.