"I think there's very little chance of that," Amy says, so decidedly that Laurence turns his attention from his uncle to his mother, and Amy smiles at him. "Don't worry, darling. You may marry whomever you like."

She looks back over at the Caspians.

"That said," she continues, in a slightly dry tone, "I wouldn't put it past the more determined mothers to start arriving with small princesses soon. Get a head start on the competition. Establish a warm and long-standing rapport with the princes.

"Especially their older brother."

Who will, after all, one day be king.