He Chose the Wrong Sister novel · Chapter 13 of 24

Chapter 13: The Cup in the Guest Room

I did not run.

I stood still on the gravel with my hands open, and the lantern light came round the yew and found my face.

Rosalind lowered the lantern slowly.

She was in a plain brown cloak, with her hair coming loose, and her face was my face with paler eyes.

"Imogen," she said.

The man behind her took one step forward, and she put a hand flat on his chest without looking at him.

"Go back to the lane, please."

"Rosa," the man said.

"Go."

He went, and he did not look at me as he passed.

We were alone, two women with one face, on a path where the whole palace could see us from its windows.

"How much did you hear?" she asked.

"The blue bottle. The cart. The vault."

Her mouth shook.

"Then you know I'm not ill."

"I've known since the attic."

"The attic." She gave a short, unhappy laugh. "I climbed those stairs too fast. I told Mother so that very night."

"What did she say?"

"That you were the only one who would notice, and that you were too grateful to be useful."

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