Treachery in Face Down Beneath the Eleanor Cross.
In the novel, Face Down Beneath the Eleanor Cross, by Kathy Lynn Emerson, the story evolves around a woman by the name of Susanna Appleton. Her husband Sir Robert Appleton had many enemies. There was a rumor that the queen of England herself wanted him in order to throw him into jail. Robert was always running away from his enemies, and he was never at home. Susanna was lonely, and the only way she could have talked to her husband was through sending him letters that were coded. One day, her husband sent her a letter and he ordered her to bring money with her, and meet him in the Black Jack pub. Susanna traveled for several nights and days; when she was very close to meet Robert again, she discovered that he was poisoned, and was lying dead at Eleanor Cross Street. Detectives accused her of Robert's death, and they tried to put her into jail. During the court sessions, the actual killer was revealed. Afterwards, the court cleared off the charge from Susanna and she returned home to continue her life.
Roberts friend, Matthew Grimshaw, killed Sir Robert Appleton because he wanted to put his hands on Robert's mansion and wealth, "Grimshaw wanted Appleton Manor and that was the major reason Matthew killed Robert"(p. 269). Robert was very rich and he owned a lot of buildings in England. Mathew was jealous and he wanted to own his friend's belongings as soon as he could, because Robert wanted to leave his belongings to his daughter, Eleanor.
The most evil friend killed one of the richest human beings in 16th century. After all, everything came to justice, and Matthew was imprisoned. Robert's wife was accused of being the murderess, "The crime with which she was charged was called "petty treason" because a husband was in the same way a monarch was the head of a country."(p. 258). Susanna was left in deep sadness. She loved her husband deeply but she was a strong women and she overcame all her fears.
