The Life of Viscount Downton [Book 1]

XLI

Alexander Crawley woke up when he heard a knock on the door. He immediately got up, leaving him a bit dizzy. Once he regained his composure, he then puts on his glasses and opens the door, and saw Mister Barrow

"Good morning, Mister Barrow..." he managed to say in his still groggy state "What are you doing here in this...early hour...?"

"Good morning, milord" Barrow then said "But are you fully aware that you've fallen asleep in the painting room?"

"In my what...?"

Alex then looks around the room he had just woken up in...and reality then suddenly came crashing in to him

"Bloody hell..." he then managed to say, after a bit of realization and processing "Mama is going to be so mad at me for this"

"Which is why I looked for you, milord" Barrow told him "I came to check on you in your bedroom, but when I noticed that you weren't there, I know there is no other place you'd rather be than here"

Alex felt embarrassed, but also at the same time, relived. Embarrassed that he slept in the painting room, still a mess, and even forgot to change in his sleep wear. And relived, because out of all the people who can manage to find to him, it was his best friend and favorite butler, Mister Barrow

"You still have plenty of time to get changed, milord" Barrow then said again, snapping him back to reality "I suggest that if you start now, you'll be done by the time everyone else is about to go down for breakfast"

"Thank you, Mister Barrow" Alex said, and pats both of the butler's shoulders "Thank you for saving me today. And now, I owe you. Big time"

Thomas Barrow was interrupted on what he was about to say when the Viscount Downton then quickly rushed upstairs to his room to take a bath and change into fresh clothes

He then slowly smiles to himself, knowing that as much as he is the Viscount's favorite butler, Alex is his favorite Crawley (other than Master George, of course), and he stands by that

***

As Alex changed into a fresh new set of tweeds, he then remembered the small gift Jo had given to him last night, in which he placed on his nightstand before taking a bath earlier

He then sat on his bed, and opens the gift. It was a small sketchbook, with a red leather cover, and a small ribbon to close it up. He chuckles softly, and also saw an inscription written on the very first page:

For your small and random doodles whenever you're bored

- Jo

Alex chuckles softly, admiring the small sketchbook on his hands. He then puts the book in his tweed chest pocket, so he can carry it everywhere from now on. He gently pats his chest pocket, before heading out of his room for breakfast

***

"Good morning, Alex!"

Alex then heard his name, and saw Jo jogging towards him down the hall.

"Good morning, Jo" he smiles happily as he saw her "And Merry Christmas"

"Merry Christmas to you, too!" Jo chuckles softly, and holds onto his arm "Did you sleep well?"

"Of course, I did. Why wouldn't I?" Alex chuckles softly, hiding the truth of what happened earlier "And you?"

"I also did, thankfully. I suppose my body is familiar with the beds of Downton now"

"Your father might complain...because the next thing he knows, you'll have him buy a bed like one here for your home!"

"No, I won't!" Jo laughs softly, gently slapping his arm "The beds here are too big, and it won't fit the house to begin with"