Alexandra's letter to Xenia, dated September 3/15, 1895

Sources:

Tamara Runova on VK

https://vk.com/id22843438?z=photo22843438_314047597%2Fphotos22843438

George Hawkins at Letters and writings of Nicholas II and his family on Facebook

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0QCJcLhWi1oh6LGYznkt11G3fB9nuh6eTze8F63eHNLPZbHvca8jxd1Z5VSda9h9yl&id=100067001081671&mibextid=Nif5oz

The letter:

Peterhof
September 3/15. 1895.
My darling!
I hope this letter will reach you on your arrival at Абасъ-Туманъ. My very best thanks for your dear 💌 from Bernstorff. — We both pay our daily visits to your tiny Chicken, and rejoice to see how she grows. She is such a merry little creature and smiles so nicely. Sometimes when we go in the morning we find her asleep, but she soon wakes up to greet us 🐣 . — In her bath 🛀 she is the greatest fun, as she begins to kick about — but when the nurse takes her out she cries.

Yesterday she went for her first drive as the weather was so beautiful and it seemed a shame to keep her in — she slept most of them. I am sure you must miss her very much, and what a change when you see her again, she has grown so nice and plump now. To-day she is two months old. We shall never want to give her up to you again, and a fight will ensue, a tug of war for her.

I hope the journey will not have been too tiring for the Weeping Willow after having been in bed such a time again — I can fancy his joy at returning home and you with him.

Yesterday, we went in the new electric launch wh was fun, it went very pleasantly and I am sure Misha will be quite enchanted with it.

U. Владимиръ came for Church, Luncheon, tea and supper. Paul is at Wolfsgarten with Ernie and all the Sisters. Nicky continues shooting his ducks, but alas it gets so soon dark now that it is not easy. Baby was delighted with him this morning and fixed his gold buttons the whole time — she begins to take notice of everything. Ara even begins to attract her attention.

I feel quite sad each time I see her to think that you cannot be with her. It is such a pleasure watching her and her clever little face. The nurse I find so nice and sensible, I have long talks with her daily — she gets on quite well now with the wetnurse, there was a moment when she had to speak rather strictly to her, as her milk was getting sour and upset Baby rather, simply because she was in a bad humour and could not have all she wanted. But after Coster told her that she must try and not be so for Baby's sake whom she must do all to take care of whilst you are gone, she has become so nice and gentle with Irina.

She walks daily with the Russian nursery maid. Baby gained 69 золотникъ last week wh is most satisfactory. Her new hair is coming fast. And how are you? It must bore you, now that something has come on again, one is so much happier without it I find. Mme Günst has returned and I am going to see her to-morrow. Nicky makes me see little Dr. Ott weekly, so as that I should get accustomed to him. Now I take salt in my hot baths for strengthening and take a sort of iron.

I cannot write much more as the carriage has already come to take me to Baby. How do you get on with your little Lady?

But now then, goodbye and God bless you. With best love from us both to you, Sandro and Georgie.

I remain, yr very loving old

Hen!

Many a fond kiss.

Above: Alexandra.

Above: Xenia.

Above: Xenia's infant daughter Irina, whom Alexandra here nicknames "Chicken", a nickname she too used for Xenia herself.

Notes: золотник (zolotnik) = slightly more than 4 grams.

At the time she wrote this letter, Alexandra was pregnant with her first child Olga, who was born on November 3/15, 1895.