Aldous must have heard his name thousands, if not millions, of times before, and yet when voiced in Mrs. Black’s sultry alto it sounded altogether brand new—and somehow exciting. An invitation.

“Mrs. Black,” the wizard mustered in return. Even when he had been whole, flirtation had often eluded him. Oh, he could schmooze all day, but when matters of the heart became involved, Aldous felt like something of a simpleton.

“I confess, I was rather torn as to whether I should attend this evening, but in meeting you here I see now that I did make the fashionable choice.”

The best choice.