https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=inu.30000011396573&view=1up&seq=112
https://www.alexanderpalace.org/letters/march15.html
The letter:
No. 54.
Tsarskoe Selo, March 8-th 1915
My own beloved One, I hope you get my letters regularly, I write and number them daily, also in my little lilac book. — Forgive my bothering you, by sending a petition, but one would like to help those poor people — I think it's the second time they write — kindly put a decision and send it to the minister of justice. —
I copied out a telegram it might amuse you to read, thanking our store for presents; I don't need it returned. Then a note from Marie to Drenteln.
What a good thing Memel has been taken, they did not expect this, I am sure, and it will be a good lesson to them. And everywhere the news, thank God, seem good, I have time to read up all now, lying in bed. — I am going over onto the sopha for 4½ already, bit by bit a little more, tho' every evening the heart is enlarged, and every day Ania asks me to come. — Glorious sunshine but very cold, they say. —
Ducky had a correspondant with her, and he wrote most interesting all she had done at Prasnish — she really does a lot with her unit, and is really under fire. Miechen promenades with her decoration to all exhibitions etc; you ought to find out really how she got it, and that such things don't happen again, and Tatiana neither. Ducky deserves it certainly. —
How sad the losses of the "Bouvet", "Irresistible" and "Ocean", so hideous to be sunk by floating mines and so rapidly too — not as tho' in battle. —
I had a letter from Victoria from Kent House — nothing new in it. Have, alas, nothing interesting to tell you. The children are lunching next door and making an unearthly noise. —
What joy sweetheart to have got another letter from you — it was just brought to me, and the nice postcards and the children's cards — we all thank over and over again and are very deeply touched you find time to write to us.
I see now why you did not go more forward, but surely you could go still to some place before returning, it would do you good and cheer the others up — anywhere. That drive must have been nice, but I understand the sad impression of those empty houses, probably many of them never to be inhabited by the same people again. Such is life — such a tragedy!
Did Sergei L. make a better impression upon you, less sure of himself and simpler? I at once sent Ania your message, it will have given her pleasure. She probably thinks that she alone is lonely without you. — Ah, she is greatly mistaken! But I know it's right you should be there and the change is good for you, only I should have wished more people to have profited and seen you. — I suppose you had service to-day. — The children went this morning. just heard Irene had a daughter (thought it would be a girl) glad it's over, poor Xenia worried about it all along. — It would have seemed more natural, had I heard that Xenia herself had borne a Baby. —
Such sunshine! The girls drove, now have gone to my red cross community, then to Ania and after tea the eldest go to Tatiana. Alexei has three of Xenia's boys. I am going to be up by ¼ to 5. —
Goodbye my Sunshine — don't worry if you can't write daily, you have much to do, and must have a little quiet too — and letter-writing takes you so much time.
God bless you, Nicky treasure, my very own huzy, I kiss and bless you and love you without ceasing.
Ever your very own wify
Alix
Nicholas's telegram:
Telegram. Stavka. 9 March, 1915.
Przemysl is taken. Praise be to God!
Nicky.
Nicholas's letter:
Stavka. 9 March. 1915.
MY BELOVED SUNNY,
How am I to thank you for your two charming letters and for the lilies? I press them to my face and kiss often the places which I think were touched by your dear lips. They stand on my table day and night; when the gentlemen pass my doors I give them the flowers to smell. God grant that I may return by the 11th — probably at 10 o'clock in the morning. What joy to be again in one's own nest snugly and closely (in every sense) together I just at this very minute, 11.30, Nicolasha came running into my carriage, out of breath and with tears in his eyes, and told me of the fall of Przemysl. Thanks be to God! For two days we have been waiting for this news with hope and anxiety. The fall of this fortress has an enormous moral and military significance. After several months of despondency, this news strikes as an unexpected ray of sunshine, and exactly on the first day of spring!
I began this letter in a calm mood, but now everything has been turned upside down in my head, so you must excuse the second part of this letter. Oh, my dear, I am so profoundly happy at this good news, and so grateful to God for His mercy! I have ordered a thanksgiving Te Deum to be sung at 2 o'clock in the local church, where I was present last year at the thanksgiving molebni! Yesterday I drove in a motor car to the same charming wood near the Scobolevsky Camp, and had a good walk on the other side of the big road — it was warm and thawing hard.
As Drenteln has hurt his ankle, Grabbe is taking his place at our games of dominoes; he is so amusing with the little Admiral that they make me and N. P. roll with laughter. I am thinking of sending Grabbe to the army in Przemysl with heaps of orders and thanks for the officers and men.
3 o'clock.
I have just returned from church, which was packed with officers and my splendid Cossacks. What beaming faces! Shavelsky spoke a few moving words; everyone was in a sort of paschal mood!
Well, good-bye, my treasure, my Sunny! May God bless you and the dear children! I am tremendously happy to return home again.
Always your old hubby,
Nicky.
Above: Nicholas and Alexandra. Photo courtesy of Ilya Grigoryev at lastromanovs on VK.
Note: molebni (молебны) = prayer services.
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