Twin Crowns (Twin Crowns, #1)

by Catherine Doyle

‘We’ve been so worried!’ Shen hugged her back. ‘You know you never need to worry about me, Tilda.’ The girl turned to look at Rose. She gasped, her mouth dropping into a perfect circle. ‘She’s just like Wren!’ Rose frowned. ‘Excuse me?’ What did Shen’s best friend have to do with her? ‘Tilda,’ said Shen, warningly, but the girl wasn’t listening. She was staring so hard at Rose, it seemed she had forgotten to blink. ‘I knew you were twins but I didn’t expect you to look so—’ ‘Tilda!’ scolded Shen. ‘That’s enough.’ The girl grinned as she stepped back. ‘Anyways, I’m Tilda. I know you, obviously. Princess Rose.’ She dipped into a clumsy curtsy. ‘Everyone knows you.’ Rose turned on Shen, but he was looking at his feet now. ‘Shen,’ she said, in a low voice. ‘What is she talking about?’ When he looked at her again, his face crumpled. ‘The healer thing was overwhelming enough, and I wasn’t supposed to say anything. I wanted to, I really did, but Banba ordered me not to. It wasn’t my place—’ ‘You didn’t tell her about Wren?’ cried Tilda. ‘I wouldn’t have been able to hold that in!’ ‘Clearly,’ said Shen, with great exasperation. ‘Rose, I can explain.’