“Lady Boothe,” Mr. Upwey approached the witness box after the Attorney General finished questioning the witness, “did you actually see the accused attack or detain Miss Leonard?”
“It was too dark, and they were too far away. But the young lady ran past me and my companion, and she looked terrified. Both Lady Collins and I saw fear on her face.”
“The witness will direct her answers about what she alone witnessed, and no one else,” The Lord High Steward said.
Lady Boothe pursed her lips and nodded.
“To clarify, then, Lady Boothe, you didn’t actually witness any attack on Miss Leonard’s person by Lord Hudsyn, correct?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Did you say anything to the victim as she ran past you? Offer to help her, perhaps?”
“No, we—I was distracted by a commotion in the garden.”
“Please tell the court what commotion you’re referring to, Lady Boothe.”
“Shouting, scuffling. I saw two men engaging in fisticuffs.”
“Lady Boothe, you said it was dark. Were you able to identify either of the men at the time of the incident?”
“Not during the actual scuffle, no, but we saw both men’s faces when they passed us on the terrace to reenter the house.
“Yes, but you weren’t able to see which of the men attacked Miss Leonard or each other first?”
“Well, I—” She frowned. “I don’t remember seeing it so much as hearing about it later. And that is when I realized what I’d witnessed.”
“Let me reframe the question, Lady Boothe. You cannot positively identify Lord Hudsyn as either Miss Leonard’s or Mr. Craventhorp’s attacker, correct?” Mr. Upwey said.
“Well, I know it was because—”
“Because the newspapers told you so?” Mr. Upwey interjected.
“Well, I…” she faltered.
“No further questions. Thank you, Lady Boothe.”
Henry cheered inwardly. Finally, his barrister was showing a measure of skill.
After this, the Attorney General called another witness for the Crown. To Henry’s surprise, he declined to call Lady Collins, who’d accompanied Lady Boothe on the terrace that night and instead opted to recall Hobsworth.
Henry’s heart drummed as he faced his friend across the courtroom. The Attorney General had been able to unnerve Hobsworth during his last testimony, and he undoubtedly hoped to do so again.
“Mr. Hobsworth,” the Attorney General said, “did you witness Lord Hudsyn and Lord Craventhorp engage in fisticuffs at 16 Audley Street, Mayfair on the evening of 23 July?”
“I did.”
“And did you intervene or do anything to stop the scuffle?”
“I did.”
“Can you describe their positions when you intervened? Were the two gentlemen in question standing or on the ground?”
“On the ground. Lord Hudsyn was sitting on top of Lord Craventhorp.”
“And where were Lord Hudsyn’s hands, sir?”
“Around Lord Craventhorp’s neck.”
