Color drains from Cuthbert's face, and he takes a harsh breath, but Alain sits forward before he can speak. "We'd meant to talk with her about it today," he points out, his easy tone a deliberate contrast to the other two.

Mayhap they've underestimated this man, Alain thinks, for there's nothing of the merry fellow he's known all this time about Caspian now, and quite a lot more hinted at beside.

"You'd know as well as we do why that didn't happen, obviously. We've all her best interest at heart, aye?"