The Life of Viscount Downton [Book 1]

XLIV

The next morning, Alex was slowly waking up from his sleep, when he heard a knock on his door

"Come in" he said sleepily as he slowly sits up on his bed and wear his glasses

His bedroom swung open, and the next thing he knew...his immediate family was singing to him while his father holds his favorite chocolate cake

~ Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday, dear Alex...

Happy Birthday to you! ~

Alex face then displayed a small smile as he rubs his eyes. Mary and Edith then sat beside him on either side and gave him a big hug

"Thank you" he said sleepily as he returns back his sisters' hug

"Sorry for waking you up earlier than you usual" Cora said, making Robert chuckle softly beside her

"It's alright, Mama. I am actually surprised Papa managed to wake up this early as well" Alex joked, making his mother and sisters, laugh softly

"It's just 6 in the morning, and you're teasing Papa already" Edith laughs

"Which is the Alex we know and love" Mary added, and gently ruffles her brother's hair

"Just blow the candle now, will you?" Robert said, and nears the cake to his son

"Make a wish, Darling" Cora smiles

Alex closes his eyes, before blowing the flame atop of the three candles. As Robert sets the cake on his study desk, all four of them gave him a big hug, making him chuckle again softly

"I love you all so much" he said to them

"We love you too, Alex. We love you very, very much" Cora said on their behalf, and kisses his cheek

***

After their small celebration and eating almost half of the cake, Alex finally got to take a quick warm bath and change into his tweeds

He also wears his winter boots and brought his winter coat and scarf, as he intends to go out for an early morning walk before the sun fully rises. But as soon as he neared the main door of the House, he realized he wasn't the only one who's going for an early walk

"Jo...?"

Jo then suddenly looks up in the distance as she heard her name, and saw Alex nearing her to where she is

"Oh, Alex!" she said she puts on her winter boots "I didn't notice you there! You're going out for a walk as well?"

"Yes, I actually am" he smiles as he watches her struggle with her shoes "Do you...uhm...need a hand...?"

"Yes...that would be lovely" Jo smiles back at him

Alex then knelt down on one knee, and helps her by holding her boots steady as she slides her foot inside it. He then let's go the boots and quickly gets up to put on his coat and scarf

"Can I accompany you on your walk?" he asks her

"Of course, you can!" she chuckles softly "Do you think I intend to walk alone now that you're here with me?"

Alex chuckles softly then offers his arm to hold on as they head out the snowy fields on an early winter morning

As they walked across the snowy fields, Jo was telling a childhood story of hers, where she and her brothers would use to run across the large grounds of the estate and make snow angels