September 1927
Alexander Crawley just arrived from his usual bike ride, thanking Mr. Barrow along the way as he was informed that his sister and brother-in-law are in the dining hall
"Good morning!" He then announced as he runs to the dining hall
"You don't have to shout, you know. The rooster already crowed earlier for us to wake up" Mary teased
"Good morning to you too, my darling sister" Alex chuckles and went to kiss his sister's cheek
"When does your school start by the way, Alex?" Tom then asked as he arrives as well
"On the 7th" Alex smiles "Though clearly I am more excited in staying at Aunt Rosamund's house again than finishing my last year at Hampton"
"Oh, don't let Papa hear that" Mary chuckles
"How are the investments, by the way?" Tom then asks her
"About that," Mary said as she poured herself tea "We really need to cut until the farms repay the investment. And we must make plan for the roof"
They all didn't notice Robert then coming in, reading a letter he has in hand
"Well, this won't help us economize" he then said as he walks in
"What is it?" Tom inquired
"The King and Queen are coming to stay"
The three of them all turned to him, all surprised at what they just heard
"What?" Mary said
"During their Yorkshire tour?" Alex followed up, grabbing another piece of bread from the breakfast buffet
"That's it, just for the night" Robert replied as he helps himself in getting breakfast "They'll spend one night at Downton then go to Harewood for a ball. While they're here, there will be a parade of the Yorkshire Hussars in the village"
"Well...that's quite eventful" Alex commented as he finishes his juice
"Of course, their Majesties are here, so it will be very eventful" his father said before turning to Mary "Is there any chance Henry might be back?"
"I doubt it. I'll send a telegram" Mary replied "But I know there's a motor show in Chicago that I know he cannot chuck"
"Tom, you're keeping control of your enthusiasm" Robert teased as he sat down at the head of the table "Is this the Irish patriot making a reappearance?"
Tom chuckles softly "I know you find my opinions highly entertaining"
Robert chuckles as well "Well, I suppose they'll send people to check that Mrs. Patmore is a Russian spy. Will you tell them downstairs, Barrow? I will see to Her Ladyship"
"Not if I see her first!" Alex quickly wipes his mouth with his napkin before standing up
"Don't tell her yet" Robert told him "You'll spoil my entrance!"
"Aw, all right..." Alex rolls his eyes before kissing his father's cheek and heading upstairs
As he quickly rushes to his mother's room, he saw Miss Baxter just leaving
"Good morning, Miss Baxter!" Alex said
"Good morning, Lord Downton" Baxter smiles "I just brought Her Ladyship's breakfast...with an extra orange juice just for you"
"Really? Why, thank you! I really appreciate it" Alex smiles, before Baxter smiles back at him and leaves
He then opens the door a little, and gave it a few knocks
"Come in!" Cora said as she heard a knock on her bedroom door. The door then swings open, revealing her son
"Good morning, my dear Mama" Alex said, smiling happily at her as he closes the door
"Good morning, my darling boy. You're quite up early here today" Cora smiles as he settles down beside her and kisses her cheek
"Well, I finished eating before Papa...which is quite a great start" Alex chuckles
"Baxter did leave a glass of orange juice for you" she then gives him the extra glass
"Yes, she did tell me earlier. I saw her leave as I head up" he smiles and takes a sip of his juice, trying not to spill some on his mother's bed
"How are you?" Cora smiles, gently fixing her son's always messy hair
"I'm alright, as always. Helped a bit in the village as well" Alex smiles sweetly at her "Papa does have something to tell you later"
"Why? What is it?"
"You'll see" he chuckles "I can't tell you, or I'll spoil his grand entrance"
"Grand entrance?" Whatever do you–"
They then heard another knock before the door swings open again, revealing Robert
"The King and Queen are coming to Downton!" he said cheerfully, smiling at them
Cora was surprised at the news, all while trying not laugh at her husband. Alex, on the other hand, couldn't help but laugh at his father's 'grand entrance'
"Why? Are you two alright?"
"That is what you call your grand entrance, Papa?" Alex asked, making Cora laugh as well "Really?"
"Now, hold on right there" Robert explained "I am trying to give your Mama a good mood this morning. I am making effort this time around"
"I am in always in a good mood, Darling. Don't worry" Cora smiles, and offers her hand out to him "But I do appreciate your efforts, really"
"Thank you, Darling. That's all I needed to hear" he then gently rubs and kisses her hand before sitting down on her side of her bed
"You could've done better, though" Alex teased his father
"Alexander Isidore–"
"I'm joking!" Alex chuckles, raising his hands up "I was only joking, Papa"
"When are they staying, by the way?" Cora then asked her husband
"The day after tomorrow. Probably by now, Mrs. Hughes will assign some tasks" Robert said, gently rubbing her hand
"Is there anything else?"
"After their stay here, they're going to Harewood for a ball"
"Alex! You're going to your first royal ball!" Cora turns to her son, smiling proudly
Alex...wasn't really happy at all from what he just heard
"I missed the part where I have to go to the ball as well" he said
"The King and Queen invited us to a ball, Alex. You should be thankful" Robert said
"But you don't like balls, let alone large events like these" Alex countered
"You're too much like your father" Cora chuckles softly "He does not large balls, either...let alone dancing"
"That was all before I met you" Robert said "I do love dancing with you, but I do still hate balls"
"But still, you need to the ball with us, Alex" Cora holds Alex's hand "You have to be there"
"But I won't do anything there! I'll just...stand there and accompany Granny!"
"And what's wrong about accompanying your Granny?" Robert asked
"Nothing, really" Alex replied "But the point is, I'm not going to do anything there"
"Just please attend with us, Alex" Cora pleaded "Just this once"
Alex sighs in defeat. He clearly can't say no to his mother, no matter how much he tries
"Alright, alright. I'll go this once" he smiles at her "And just this once only"
"Thank you, Darling" Cora smiles, and kisses his cheek "Now, go get dressed. And I remind you to be ready for dinner later. Granny, Isobel, and Dickie are coming"
"Duly noted, Mama" Alex smiles "I'll see you two later"
He then takes his glass with him as heads out of their room and quietly closes the bedroom door
"He's growing up so fast, isn't he?" Robert then said, and looks at his wife
"Too fast, really" Cora looks back at him, frowning a little "I can't believe our little Prince is a young man already"
"He's going to be a great man one day" he smiles, gently brushing strands of hair away from her face "He is already making his own path, and I could never be prouder of him"
"You and me both, Darling" Cora slowly smiles as well before gently giving him a kiss
"Why the long face?"
Mary then asked as she saw her brother going down the stairs, joining her to go around the county to prepare for the visit
"Nothing. It's just that I promised Mama that I'd go to the Harewood ball" Alex replied, adjusting his glasses
"Well, you can't say no to her"
"Obviously I can't, so of course I had to agree. I'll just accompany Granny at the ball, I suppose"
"Or you could find some...young lady to dance with" she then teased, making him roll his eyes
"I'd rather sleep on the settee than go dance at the ball" Alex said
Mary chuckles "I was just teasing you, don't worry"
Alex then slowly smiles at her as they head out
Nighttime then passed, and the rest of the family arrived for dinner. They then discussed about the upcoming royal visit
"Maud Bagshaw is coming to Downton?" Violet said with a surprised look on her face
"Yes, as the Queen's lady-in-waiting" Robert replied
"Oh my goodness..."
"Why so surprised? Who is she?" Mary asked
"She's a cousin of your father's" Violet then slightly hesitates before continuing "We'll discuss it later"
Tom, Mary, and Alex all looked at one another before continuing to eat
"How is it all going?" Violet then asked
"Mary's got it under control" Robert replied
"Hardly. There's so much to do" Mary said
"Who were those men measuring on the green as we pass?" Dickie asked
"They're building the dais for the Queen at the parade, Uncle" Alex answered
"How exciting!"
"Seems rather a waste of money" Isobel then said
Violet rolls his eyes "Oh, here we go..."
"But isn't that what the Monarchy's for?" Cora said, "To brighten the lives of the Nation with stateliness and glamour?"
"To quote Tennyson: Kind hearts are more than coronets, and simple faith than Norman blood"
"Do you have you enough clichés to get through to the visit?" Violet then asked her
"If not, I'll come to you" Isobel replied, earning a snicker from Alex
After dinner, the family head to the drawing room, where they all had their coffees and whiskeys as the servants leave them be. Alex, was sitting beside his mother by the fireplace as he played with Teo as well
"And now, you were going to tell us about Lady Bagshaw," Dickie then said as he sat beside his wife "Is she a very distant cousin?"
"No. Her father was my great-uncle" Robert replied
"Then why have we never heard of her?" Mary asked
"Because she chose to cut herself from the family" Violet answered sternly
"Do you know the reason?"
"Maybe. I believe she means to cheat your father and eventually, your brother of their rightful inheritance. Your father is her nearest relation"
"I won't have her put on the spot" Robert warned his mother
"You're plotting something. I see a Machiavellian look in your eye" Isobel said
Violet turns to her "Machiavelli is frequently underrated. He had many qualities"
"So did Caligula, not all of them charming"
Alex sighs softly "What are you up to, Granny?" he then asks
"Ideally, I would like Maud to see your father as the son she never had"
"Will she be the mother I never had?" Robert teased, raising an eyebrow
Violet glares at his son "Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit"
The immediate family then gathered in the library as the elders left. Cora was telling a bedtime story to her grandchildren before they all head up to bed
"So, which side are you on in this chaos?" Tom asks Alex as they sit beside Mary in one of the settees
"I don't know" Alex said "In fact, I don't really care"
"Why? Don't you like to inherit the Brampton Estate one day?" Mary asks
"Not really. We already have the Grantham House, Downton Place, and the Dower House to manage; aside from the estate and the county itself" Alex said "It's clearly Cousin Maud's right to choose who she wishes to inherit Brampton"
"Even if it's a complete outsider?"
"Yes. But I don't think she is all that bad, as what Granny told us. And I think Cousin Maud is not just going to choose someone else. Probably she's going to choose someone who means a lot to her"
"I agree with Alex" Robert said as he finishes his whiskey "It is her right to choose, and we just need to respect that"
"Granny wouldn't be happy to hear that, especially from both of you" Mary said
"Well, Granny started this new war, and my only point is I am going to get involved in any this chaos" Alex said "Whatever happened between them, is between them and them only"
Robert smiles at him, feeling very impressed and proud "Since when did my son become so wise?"
Alex chuckles softly "To be honest, Papa...I don't know either"
