Une Nouvelle Ère [Book 2]

XX

18th of June, 1928

And it was quite an early morning, and the Downton kitchen was being at it's busiest as usual when Alex came in and carrying two large crates. "Mrs. Patmore?" he then said as he entered "Straight to the pantry, isn't it?"

"Yes, milord!" the cook replied, to which Alex smiles back and heads straight to the large pantry near the back door.

"I heard the young Viscount has just arrived." Mrs. Hughes said as she entered the kitchen.

"He just put the crates down in the pantry." Daisy then said.

Alex then arrives back, and saw the head housekeeper "Ah, good morning Mrs. Hughes!" he said, smiling.

"Good morning, milord." Mrs. Hughes returned the smile "Lord and Lady Grantham are already up in the dining hall now, along with Lady Mary and Lady Rosamund."

"Already?" the young Viscount chuckles "They're sure up early and preparing for the match today."

"Will you be using your lucky mallet this time, Alex?" Mrs. Patmore then asked.

"Yes of course!" Alex said proudly "I won't let anyone use it!"

"Not even Miss Lewis?" Daisy teased.

"Nope. Not even Miss Josephine."

"But surely, you'll win this time? Because it was Lady Hexham who won last year!" the kitchen assistant then reminded him.

"I'm pretty sure we'll win this time around, don't worry." Alex said "I have never been more focused for this match compared to the others."

Mrs. Hughes rolls her eyes, and shakes her head "I'm sure you are. But for now you'll need a lot of energy for today, so I advise you to go have some breakfast now before it gets too late."

"Sorry, Mrs. Hughes." Alex chuckles softly again, and kisses the housekeeper's cheek before running back upstairs to his family.

***

"Ah! There is he." Mary Crawley then said upon seeing her brother emerge in the dining hall "We thought you'd be eating with the Lewises again."

"And why would I be going to them, when it is a very special day." he then jogs to his mother, grinning happily "Happy birthday, Mama!" Alex showered her with kisses, making the Countess laugh happily and hugs him close.

"Thank you, darling." Cora smiles sweetly at him as he pulls away.

"Easy on your mother now." Robert then said as he looks onto them.

"Why? Are you jealous Papa?" his son teased, making Rosamund almost choke on her tea nearby.

"What? No!" his father defended "I just...well, why don't just go sit down and eat now."

"He is jealous." Rosamund then quipped, earning a chuckle from the rest of the group, and an annoyed look from her brother

"By the way, what time will the Fellowship come around?" Tom then inquired as the Viscount sat down in between Lucy and Mary.

"They'll arrive after luncheon and stay for a few days...except of course, for the ladies." Alex answered.

"Well, I'm glad to see all of my boys again." Rosamund smiles.

"Your boys?" her brother inquired.

"Yes...and it's not surprise why you can't catch up these days."

"It's because he's getting older." Cora quipped, earning a laugh around the room and a look from her own husband.

***