A Widow's Poison, A Wife's Rebellion novel Chapter 872

Hearing Yardley ask her to stay until she saw their father, Starla fell silent. She didn't nod, but she didn't refuse either.

"Starla."

"Fine," she finally relented. She hadn't seen her father since returning; it was only right to see him first. She pulled back from Yardley's embrace. "Why do you trust Herbert so much?" she asked. The level of faith Yardley placed in him was unsettling—as if nothing Herbert did could ever harm the Hoggart family. Starla had never trusted anyone completely, so this absolute confidence baffled her.

A fond smile touched Yardley's lips as he pinched her nose affectionately. "Men's trust is something you don't need to worry your pretty head about."

He hadn't answered her directly, but his deflection confirmed one thing: he trusted Herbert implicitly, and their relationship ran deep. Otherwise, why would Yardley have personally demanded her to hand over the prisoner for Herbert that morning?

"Is Brinley really dead?" Yardley asked. Clearly, Herbert didn't believe it, and truth be told, neither did Yardley. As much as Starla hated the Yelchin family, she had never resorted to outright murder. None of them believed she would actually take a life.

"She's dead," Starla stated firmly. No matter who asked, that would be her answer. She refused to admit anything else. She had realized that Brinley seemed to have a terrifying amount of luck. Even dying of kidney failure, if Brinley ended up in anyone else's hands, she would likely pass peacefully. Starla had no intention of letting her have a comfortable end.

Ultimately, Starla didn't go down for dinner. The events of the morning had hit her hard, and she had no desire to face Yardley. A maid brought her food up to her room. She had only managed a couple of bites when Tanya Mercer called.

"Tanya, Garret said his men couldn't get to you," Starla answered.

"That bastard put me under house arrest!" Tanya exploded.