Her parents stared at her with blank expressions, and then shocked. Their fight had gotten so animated that they had forgotten she was even in the room.
"What do you mean Darby?" Papa asked, gaining his senses first.
"I can take both the lessons, I'll go to work with you, Papa, and choose my own lessons for half the time and the other half I will also take the lady lessons." She spoke swiftly, hoping to put an end to their arguing as soon as possible.
"Are you sure you could handle that, Darby? That would be a lot of work for you, and the lady lessons are awful. You shouldn't have to do both," Papa said, with a worried expression on his face.
Darby nodded her head strongly, saying "This way you will both be happy. I can handle it. I will get the lessons I want and Mama can still be in Society like she wants. I can do it."
"I don't know Darby, I really want you to stop the Lady lessons.." Papa said, obviously anxious for his child.
"I don't like the idea either", Mama said in an icy tone. "Even if you do both, it will still turn me and this family into a laughingstock. You will be looked at as some wild unruly animal in Society. No one will want to be near you."
"She will be better than anyone in Society! Who gives a damn what they think!" Papa shouted, quickly getting agitated again, ready to resume the quarrel.
"I care!" screamed Mama "I have been welcome in Society my whole life. I will not be ostracized!"
"No more fighting! Please! I can still learn to behave like a lady Mama...I'll just be taking extra lessons, no one else has to know about." Darby reasoned calmly.
"That's right" Papa joined, nodding "And since, is going to be inheriting all my wealth anyway…We could call them inheritance lessons."
"Inheritance lessons? For a girl?" Mama scoffed. "It would be more appropriate if it was passed to her husband when she is married."
"Now that I will not stand!" Papa yelled, slamming his hand on the desk and getting worked up again. "Darby is perfectly capable of managing any money I have, it will all go to her! What nonsense!" He muttered as Darby looked at him, pleading with her eyes that he calm down.
"Fine!" Mama yelled, throwing her hands up, "Inheritance lessons at least sound better than letting her run wild and having all of Society know about it….If she can handle it." Mama sighed and looked at Darby out of the corner of her eye "If you ever feel like you can't handle it or it becomes too much…You can always go back to only doing lady lessons." Papa scowled at Mama, as she implied that Darby wouldn't be able to handle taking on more lessons. Darby's face darkened, and said.
"That won't happen. I can do it."
Papa put his hand on Darby's shoulder and squeezed it encouragingly.
"That's right, she can handle it, she is very smart and clever." Darby looked at him and gave a small smile at his motivating words, she nodded and said confidently.
"I can handle it, I know I can. I can do both. I can be both."
Mama looked at them with a strange expression and then scoffed.
"Fine!" and waved her hand in the air as she turned and leaving the room. Papa and Darby turned to look at each other excitedly and hugged. Darby squealed as they squeezed each other tightly.
"I can't believe it!" She shouted happily. "When can we start?!" Papa laughed too, seeing her so thrilled and happy.
"Well, we can start tomorrow, of course!" He chuckled. "But Darby," he said seriously, "It really will be a lot of work." Darby nodded, saying.
"I know Papa, I will work hard, I can do it!" Papa smiled and said,
"Ok, ok, I know you can." Darby left her Papa's office and made her way to her room for bed. She was a little nervous she might run into Mama and that she would try to scold her about it in some way. But much to her relief, she was able to get to her room and ready for bed without any disturbances.
Darby could hardly fall asleep, her heart was thumping so loudly in her chest. She was absolutely exhilarated. The day had been an absolute rollercoaster. But now it was official, she would be learning whatever she wanted, it was so exciting, she knew the ladies' lessons would still be terrible. But she could push through knowing she had something she loved, fun and adventure waiting for her.
The next morning she was up early, ready to start the first day of inheritance lessons with her Papa. She had been able to convince one of the servant boys in the house to lend her an outfit to wear with her hair up in a hat so she could work hard wherever they went and at least for now know one would guess it was her. That should hold off some of the gossip Mama is so worried about.
Darby rushed down the stairs and jumped over the last two at the end, landing with a big thump. It startled the maids who had been working and weren't used to seeing her running about happily.
Mama was passing by as Darby was on her way out. Mama shouted
"Darby Herrington, what on earth are you wearing?! That is not appropriate at all, you still promised to behave like a lady!" Darby swung open the door to run to meet her Papa outside, but she turned and yelled as she eagerly left.
"Oh but today, I am not a lady!!"
She smiled happily as the door slammed shut.