Downton

Part 14

Janes POV:
After Anna finishes with me I proceed downstairs to breakfast where I find Papa, Sybil, Mary, Edith and Adam making small talk.  I walk over to Papa and give him a kiss on the cheek as usual and once again take my seat next to Sybil.

Papa: And how are you this morning my little Jane?

And there he goes with the "little" again.  I muster up a smile and respond.

Jane: Very well, how about yourself Papa?

Papa: Oh you know me, slept like a log last night and I am ready for my day with Matthew.

Edith: What are you and Matthew doing today?

Papa: We are going to walk around the property and discuss what needs to be done, it seems that he has finally taken a shine to the place.

Adam: Robert, I have been meaning to ask you actually if I might, sometime, tag along with you and Matthew, only if it is to your liking of course.

Papa: Well I should be delighted to have you join us Adam!  How smashing!  I am so excited to show you all the work we have done so far!

Mary: Oh don't get Papa too excited, he might recruit you.

Jane: Might I come along too Papa?

Everyone dropped their forks and knives and were utterly silent.

Papa: Jane darling I think it would be rather boring for you, why don't you meet us afterward for tea in the library, hmm?

I huff, I should've known Papa would react this way.  He is rather old fashioned that way, he and Granny are cut from the same cloth, even if he denies it.

Jane: Well if I can't come with you I'm going riding.

And with that I left the table and went to my room to ring for Anna to get my riding clothes.  On the way to my room I raminto Mama.

Mama: Good morning darling, finished with breakfast already?

I nod

Jane: I'm going out for a ride I'll be back in time for tea.

I give her a kiss on the cheek and get ready for my solo ride.

It is some time before I finally get down to the stables where Gregson, our horse and stable care taker is waiting with my horse Velvet.  He really is the best horse in the world.

Gregson: Alright me lady let me just get saddled up and we can depart.

Jane: Oh no Gregson it's quiet alright I don't need a chaperone really, I'm just going to be riding in the grounds, what trouble could I possibly get into?

Gregson: His Lordship won't be happy.

Jane: Well, I won't tell if you won't.

Gregson looks slightly guilty but then tips his hat and heads off to tend to the other horses and I jump on Velvet and go as fast as I can.

I ride through the forest, jumping over logs, running through rivers, taking the most challlrnfing jumps I can find.  Horseback riding always helped me to clear my mind, and I certainly needed that today.

I see what looks like a most dangerous and fun jump and take it.....this does not go as planned, Velvet sees something out of the corner of his eye and rears up knocking me to the ground.  When he lands back on the ground it is actually my foot he lands on.  I could hear the bones in my foot cracking.

I try to back away from him but all I end up doing is rolling down a short steep hill and hitting my head on something hard.  I put the palm of my hand on the back of my head.  When I return my hand to my eyes I see that blood has coated it.  Upon seeing this my sight fades and the sounds of Velvet dissipate into nothingness.

Lady Jane Crawley