"Hah!"
Alexander Crawley shouted as he knocks off his aunt down to the ground. Both of them catch their breaths, and displayed proud smiles on their faces
"Well done, Alex" Lady Rosamund Painswick said to her nephew, "You're getting better every single day. Even better than your sisters"
"It's because I am learning from the best" Alex smiles as he helped her back up her feet
"So, we're gonna pretend we don't exist now?" Edith Crawley then said, making them all laugh
"Oh, don't worry Edith" her sister Mary then said "At least we won't be in trouble inheriting Downton one day. We'll get all the freedom once he's the Earl"
"I'm just the Honorable Alexander Crawley, not the Viscount Downton yet" Alex reminded, "It will be father who'll be in trouble first before me, which I still have some freedom left for me"
"As if Father's not already in trouble with all of us" Sybil then teased, making the four of them laugh once again
Just as they're replenishing themselves before one last round, they all saw Patrick and Violet Crawley, Earl and Countess of Grantham, heading towards them and accompanied by the Viscount and Viscountess Downton
"How lovely of the four to come outside for once!" Rosamund said as she head towards them
"We thought the Viscount and Viscountess needed some sun, so we invited them over to accompany us" the Earl then teased
"Papa!" the Viscount immediately defended
"Now, now Robert, don't so defensive" Violet said to him as she settled down beside the refreshments table "Your father hasn't said much yet, and you're already guilty"
"How is your training?" Cora then asks her children, who all had just finished greeting her
"Apparently Alex is better than us now" Edith reported, "And Auntie said he could be better than the three of us combined"
"Oh really?" Patrick then said "Robert, do you mind handing me one of the spare swords over there?"
All of them were surprised at his sudden statement. Robert was hesitant at first, but with his father's serious expression he quickly grabbed one of the spare foils
"What are you planning, Grandpapa?" Sybil then inquired
"I am going to test your brother's skills, to see if he's worthy of all the good remarks he's receiving today"
"Are you...are you sure, Grandpapa?" Alex asks, hesitant to even pick up his own foil
"Ah, so you're accepting your defeat already?" Patrick taunted "Clearly no descendant of mine raises the white flag immediately"
"Father," Robert then spoke "I don't think that's—"
But Patrick ignored him, and continued "Even if they know they're losing, they should at least try it first. It's for experience as well, dear boy. So tell me, are we going to have a duel or not?"
Alex sighs softly and reluctantly picks up his foil, noting himself to be careful with his strikes or he could end up killing his own grandfather
"Are you ready, boy?"
The young man displayed a confident smile on his face, and raises his foil "Ready as I'll ever be, Grandpapa"
Without warning, the eldest Crawley attacked first, almost catching the youngest by surprise. Unfortunately for him, Alex quickly parries him and counter attacks. Patrick successfully parries his grandson's counter, before swinging to attack once again
"My God," Robert said as they all watch the men duel in front of them "they're both really good, aren't they?"
"They are," Rosamund told him "but if you were in Alex's shoes, you would've been defeated immediately"
The Viscount turns to his older sister, who was now grinning proudly at herself. He cannot decided if he's going to be offended, or just accept his fate as perhaps the worse fencer in the House of Grantham
All of a sudden, the 6th Earl of Grantham lunged another surprising attack. Alex was caught off a guard, but quickly regains his composed figure and stand his guard, just like what his Auntie had taught him
"Not ready to accept defeat yet?" he taunted
Alex chuckles softly, and shakes his head "Not even in the slightest, Grandpapa" he replied
But as Patrick tries to catch him off-guard again, the younger Crawley quickly swerves away and counters with a parry riposte. The force was quite strong, that it was enough to knock of the Earl of Grantham down to the ground
"Patrick!"
"Papa!"
"Grandpapa!"
Everyone then suddenly scrambled towards the Earl as he grunts while trying to get up. Even Barrow and the footmen, who were watching from a distance, came dashing to his aid
Alex came close to him first, offering and strong hand and arm to hold. He then pulls his grandfather slowly back up, with Robert and Rosamund aiding and holding onto their father's back
"Are you alright?" everyone questioned in unison, which made Patrick laugh softly
"I am alright. Don't worry too much about me" he assured them as he dusts off his suit
"But are you sure you don't have any bruises or wounds?" Alex inquired, still worried about what he has done "Grandpapa, I am so sor—"
"Oh hush, Alexander" Patrick said, before placing a hand on his grandson's shoulder "I think you are better than everyone else here. Well done, boy"
Alex looks at his grandfather as he casually walks his way to the refreshments table. His parents and aunt followed suit, with Robert quickly putting back his father's foil back in the rack
His sisters then look at him as well, smiling proudly and suddenly hugging him, much to his surprise
"Congratulations," his eldest sister Mary said to him "You are now officially the best fencer in the House of Grantham"