The Life of Viscount Downton [Book 1]

XXXVII

As Alex settles himself down on his chair and setting up a large canvas in front of him, he then looks at the photos first, to give him some ideas:

The first photo was taken during his Mama's birthday, where she was smiling and watching her great-grandchildren play in the grounds

He smiles at the photo, remembering her not wanting to go at first with his invitation...not until he mention there will be wine, of course

The second and third photos were from the Royal Visit a few months ago. The second photo was Violet, her only son Robert, her daughter-in-law Cora, and the couple's only son: Alex himself

Taken at the upstairs private drawing room, Violet and Cora were both sitting on a regal-like chairs, Robert was still in his black ceremonial uniform, and Alex was still in his morning dress. Both men stood on both ends and beside their mothers, respectfully

Alex thought it was the official one, but instead it was the outtake: where both men are are looking their mothers and smiling lovingly. The ladies looks back at their sons, and smiles back lovingly at them as well

The third one was also another outtake: this time, it was him and his sister Mary and Edith. Violet was still in her chair, where Mary and Edith are on her right, while Alex stood all alone on his left

Of course, the three of them were beaming, but Alex then noticed Violet was smiling a little as well upon looking closer in the photo

The fourth photo was taken during the recent summer holidays, where they held their family croquet match in grounds of the Downton Place, which is their temporary summer home

It was always two rounds: Cora, Robert, and Rosamund versus Mary, Alex, and Edith for the first round, while for the second round is Tom, Bertie, and Henry versus The Crawley Siblings

Alex was always the best player of the game, while his father Robert was...unfortunately, the worst player

The photo was a candid one, where Violet was sitting under the tent as she watches her children and grandchildren compete against one another

Robert and Rosamund was on on either side of their mother, also taking in some shade as they wait of their turns and were mallets as support while they stood beside her. The three of them were all looking at something on the far left of the photo as well

The fifth and and last one was an old but simple photo of Violet, his grandpapa Patrick; the 6th Earl of Grantham, as well as their children and children-in-laws, which was taken during the New Year

Both Patrick and Violet were smiling as they sat in the middle

Robert and Cora stood by Patrick's right side while Rosamund and her late husband, Marmaduke Painswick stood by Violet's left side

All of them were also smiling happily, with the Christmas tree shining beautifully in the background

Alex smiles at the photo, but upon reading what was writing at the back of it, his expression then turned from a happy one into a sad one:

Our last Family Photo together,
New Year 1900

He then remembered the stories from both his parents and sisters: that shortly after the New Year celebrations in their respective countries, both of his grandfathers, Isidore Levinson and Patrick Crawley contracted tuberculosis, in which they never recovered

They both died afterwards, with only a week in between them. He looks at the photo again, seeing them all happy for one last time and knowing the horrible tragedies that will happen afterwards