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Alexandra wrote this letter to her brother Ernst on December 26, 1913/January 8, 1914.
The letter:
My beloved Ernie,
I am writing to you with an autopen Victoria sent me. Let me thank you from us both ever so tenderly for our perfectly delightful presents. How beautiful the roses are, is she not the lady who gave cousins painting lessons? The mauve bowl is lovely too, the figure of Christ for Livadia — & the old Image I shall have arranged & hung up in our bedroom. No doubt it belonged to the rooms in wh. Gt Aunt Marie lived at the Alte Palais, or where she had her transportable chapel there. You do send such delightful presents always. We shall try Nicky's air, or smoke consumer. The Children enjoy their scealing-wax heater greatly. —
Our presents we had after eleven on Xmas Eve, because Nicky & the girls went to A. Minny from 6-11. — Our trees began after 2 for the ladies, masters, servants & Children. I went alone to Church & prayed for all my dear ones near & far. — It is such a blessing to have our Darling walking about again, & he does enjoy going out into the snow & to the soldiers' Xmas trees. He has grown very much. Now he sleeps in the spare room next to the day nursery wh. is quite his now. The girls have taken their writing-tables into their bedrooms, wh. look most cosy now.
Next to him sleeps his man in a small room I had made out of Baby's big one. Then Sonia's sitting room is his lesson room. Then the big dark library is quite white (bookcases all gone) & large dark blue leather furniture, cosy — & 2 pianos — the girls have their music lessons here & the masters lunch. Baby breakfasts & dines there with Mr Gilliard & his Dr, & in the evening, Marie, Anastasia & Schura take part. Then Mr Gilliard lives in Sonia's bed & other sitting room. I had to have them both made smaller to get a corridor arranged for Trine to be able to pass to the lessons, & for me to go to Sonia. The latter lives in Sofie Ivanovna's rooms — all her furniture has been taken there, but the room is so immense that it looks almost empty — she is better lodged than before & we have had a lift made for her. —
Alexei has another young sailor now to help Derevenko take turns & to look after his things. He is an excellent fellow, was several years on board, and the last 3 in the childrens' cabins — he is more strict than Derevenko, but touchingly kind. He also sat up part of the nights at Livadia now when Alexei suffered so terribly fr. a fall on the other leg. — I have taken Iza Buxhoeveden quite now, after her marriage did not come off. She has become less fidgety since, & this has ever been her dream. So she & Nastinka Hendrikoff take turns going out with Olga & Tatiana, or accompanying them to town (wh. Lili Ob. & Olga Evg. did not like doing, as they found as my ladies it an unnecessary thing) then in the Crimea whilst I rested they read English or French with them.
It is so good having these two bright young creatures to keep them company & their friendly faces are a pleasure to behold — never any stories between, & Olga Evg: because much nicer & full of life this autumn, thanks to no antagonistic influences. Mme Narishkine is the old hen looking after them all, I had them all & Trine, Sonia & Ania in the Crimea. — 16 dgr. of frost & bright sunshine. I have only been to Church in a shut carriage, as cannot breathe in the cold any more. — I was worse last month & now am better again, thanks to the beautiful Crimean air — could even go to one of the soldier’s trees, but I made sister Olga, O & T give the presents, as that is too tiring. —
Well Irina's engagement to Felix Soumarokoff has at last been announced & one says they swim in happiness & she is beginning to wake up. God grant them happiness — they are so young & have lille character I fear — she is lovely. I am sorry Xenia's only daughter making such a marriage — after all a false position (in England so easy) & he is a civilian.
Tatiana K. husband is military, N. made him aide de camp this year (Prince Bagration Muchransky) — we saw him constantly in the Crimea en famille — naturel & full of respect & tact — wh. both Felix does not much possess — is at once at his ease everywhere — & more familiar, well I hope poor Xenia will have no bothers & that all will go well. Awful giving one's child away, not knowing what is in store for her — well here they have been 10 months everywhere inseparable almost in Russia & abroad, so had time to know each other well; — at least she remains in Russia & has everything one could wish for. —
Must end now. Kissing you both dears ever so tenderly, yr old Sunny. & God bless you. —
Above: Alexandra. Photo courtesy of Ilya Grigoryev on VK.
Above: Ernst.
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