it sounds to me like she got caught out or, at the very least, suspected of having a fling, by her husband and that's the reason she had to tell him the truth.

Richard said of his friend "He said that she had told him and broken down in tears and asked for his forgiveness."

I guess she had to admit to it, for whatever reason, as opposed to 'confess' (which would be voluntary).

I had a friend in a similar situation, her husband was away a lot and even when at home never objected to her being out late with friends from the office. He was never particularly interested in their sex life.

One day he asked her directly if she had had an affair. Something about the way he asked made her sure he knew she had strayed, so she admitted it to it and held her breath. No more was said that night about the affair.

Next day they couldn't pass each other in the house without hugging, kissing and weeping. The love was safe. Both understood why the affair had occurred and, if anything, it served to strengthen their marriage.