Page 126 of No Charm Done

“So . . . does that mean you aren’t opposed to marriage?”

Del looked at him, baffled. “No, I’m not opposed to anything. Well, anything except the idea that I’m obligated to catch a bouquet simply because my sister aimed it at my head. I’m not some trained seal.”

“Good to hear. I have no interest in marrying a pinniped.” He placed a small velvet box on the table and opened it to reveal a vintage emerald-cut sapphire, deep blue as midnight, flanked by two small diamonds. “However, I am very interested in marrying you. If you’ll have me.”

For a moment, Delilah just stared at the box, then at Jasper, then at the box again. It was wildly inappropriate, proposing on her sister’s big day like this. And if he took it back, she would definitely murder him. There were too many competing thoughts at once, like a sudden five-car pile-up in her head, and the best she could manage was a slight nod.

“A nod, Del?! Oh no, my darling, I’m going to need a bit more than a nod. Is that a yes?”

“Obviously!” She let out a short, shocked laugh. “Did you expect me to make you ask twice?”

“Well, I wondered if you might critique my timing.”

She smiled. “True, your timing is extraordinarily bad. Mama will deem this inappropriate, and Scarlett will be outraged I’ve upstaged her. Which means, I couldn’t possibly love you any more.”

Jasper reached out and pulled her to him, knocking his champagne into her salmon as they kissed.

Someone at the next table saw the embrace. Someone else gasped. Within seconds, the entire reception was cheering, and Jasper was trying to actually get the ring on Delilah’s finger while people crowded around to congratulate them.

“DELILAH!” Scarlett shrieked from across the green. “You got engaged at my wedding?! You’re a social catastrophe, do you know that?” But she was laughing, and Nate was laughing, and the whole town was applauding, and then⁠—

The air in the middle of the dance floor split open like a wound.

The portal was messy and unstable, the edges crackling with energy that suggested it had been opened in a hurry. Through the opening came the unmistakable sounds of chaos: shouting, the crack of musket fire, someone screaming orders in what might have been French.

Luna tumbled through first, followed immediately by Elias, both of them moving with the practiced efficiency of people who’d done this too many times to count. She spun around and snapped the portal shut, abruptly cutting off the noise and leaving only the stunned silence of the small-town wedding reception.

“Sorry!” Luna called out, breathless and grinning. “Sorry, we’re fine, everything’s fine⁠—”

“Was that a battle?!” Belinda Chatterjee stood up so fast her chair fell over. “Were you in some sort of shooting war?”

“Yeah but they weren’t shooting at us.” Luna brushed dust off her jacket. “We just kind of, uh . . .”

“Got caught in the middle,” Elias finished for her. They grinned at one another, two happy partners whose lives had become a series of in-jokes that no outsiders could ever share. “Long story.”

“You’re late,” Scarlett noted.

“Sorry, sis. Save-the-date cards and time travelers don’t really mix.” Luna and Elias were dusty, exhilarated, and ravenous. They dove for the empty seats at the head table, tearing into the meal like a pair of underfed wolverines.

“My gods, when did you goofballs last eat?” Scarlett slid into the chair beside Luna, smiling like nothing had happened at all. Between sisters, some things don’t require explanations.

“Unclear,” Luna said around a mouthful of bread. “What year is it?”

“You’re the worst—you know that?”

“I know. Your wedding is beautiful, by the way.”

“My wedding was beautiful, but you wouldn’t know.”

“Jeez, I said sorry!”

Delilah stretched out her arm, mock-casually showing off her engagement ring. “You better be on time for the next one, that’s all I’m saying.”

* * *

Later—much later—the music softened. Some guests drifted away. Others lingered, unwilling to let the night end.

Luna sat with her sisters at a table at the edge of the crowd. The three watched in silence as young Violet efficiently directed a group of far-older staff members in busing tables and general tidying.