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‘I know,’ I interrupt. ‘I’ll talk to you first.’

‘Do.’

* * *

‘I have good news and bad news,’ Lucy announces, having thoroughly examined my hair the next morning.

‘Bad news first,’ I tell her.

‘I’m afraid you’ve done a proper job with this, and I can’t reverse it. Sorry. If I tried to apply more colour to make you blonde again, there’s a real risk of damaging your hair. I think our best option is to commit to this. However, that’s where the good news comes in.’

I sigh. ‘It won’t matter because Mum will take one look at it and promptly murder me?’

‘That’s not what I was going to say, although I agree that your mum might need a bit of time to get used to it. The good news is that it actually really suits you, in my opinion. And it will come out… eventually.’

‘Great.’

‘It could be worse,’ she says with a smile. ‘You could have decided to go as one of the emotions from Inside Out, with blue or green hair. Silver is quite classy. Remind me what colour the bridesmaids’ dresses are?’

‘Dusky pink.’

‘Oh, the silver will go beautifully with that. Very Regency. Yes, you could definitely have done a lot worse.’

‘Let’s hope Mum and Hebe see it that way,’ I tell her glumly.

* * *

‘What the bloody hell have you done to your hair?’ Mum practically screeches when she opens the door to me a little while later. So much for Lucy’s optimism.

‘It’s a temporary colour for the fancy-dress party that proved not to be as temporary as I hoped,’ I explain lamely.

‘I’m calling Lucy,’ Mum declares as she bustles me into the kitchen. ‘We need to sort this out before Hebe sees it.’

‘I’ve already seen Lucy. She couldn’t do anything.’

Mum stares at me in horror for a moment before she speaks. ‘Oh, darling, how could you be so irresponsible? So close to Hebe’s wedding. What were you thinking?’

‘It was an important part of my costume. I honestly thought it would wash out.’

‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, Athena. I’ve always said your competitiveness would get you into trouble one day, but I never expected you to do something as idiotic as this.’

‘Lucy thinks it suits me,’ I say, sounding petulant now. ‘And it could be worse. It’s not pink, blue or green.’

Mum narrows her eyes and stares at me for a while.

‘It was still a very silly thing to do. Let’s just hope Hebe doesn’t get too upset when she sees how strange you look.’

‘I don’t look strange,’ I say firmly to Mum. ‘In fact, I think Lucy might have a point.’

‘I don’t see how going grey before your time could possibly suit you.’ She huffs. ‘You’re only thirty, you know, not fifty-five. Although, I suppose it matches your jaded fifty-five-year-old attitude.’

I sigh. Mum is on to her favourite topic now.

‘I know I’ve said this before,’ she continues, ‘but it wouldn’t harm you, Athena, to soften yourself a little. Cynicism is not an enchanting trait in a woman, and if you want to attract a decent man someday⁠—’

‘I’m not cynical,’ I cut in before she can get into her stride. ‘I’m a realist. And I’m also more than just some trinket you hang out to attract men like moths.’

‘Which may be why you’re permanently single,’ Mum shoots back. ‘That, and now your weird hair. It’s Hebe I feel sorry for. You know how much work she’s put into her special day, Athena. You should have been more considerate.’