Nicholas's letter to Alix, dated May 16/28, 1894

Sources:

Alexandra Feodorovna: Diaries and Correspondence, volume 2: Engagement and Marriage, 1894, pages 95 to 96, by George Hawkins, 2023

https://disk.yandex.com/mail?hash=Pr3%2B9BqSbVsjjgV6xvio2QYWT4c8a9OyIUIZXJLFUpg%3D%3A

The letter:

May 16/28 1894. Красное Село.

N 26.

My own precious little Alix,

Here I am again in my cosy hut after an hour's drive in the cool evening air. Your sweet letter N 25 made me so happy, the russian you used was perfect. I showed Papa the envelope and he was very pleased with the inscription there on. It came, I mean yr. letter at an unwonted hour, after tea, which comforted me for the rest of the day. Because I was sad it had not come at 2. the regular hour.

Oh! you darling sweety, my pet, my love, my little girly-dear! I was thinking of you the whole day & was wondering what [you] might have been doing today, whether you had taken a drive or had two rotten-egged baths etc. How I longed for a chat with you, while you were being dragged along in that bath-chair; I am sure you meant to say a pierced chair! How funny those musicians must be, but why will they always choose the hour of your russian lesson? That puts me in mind of old days: when we used to have lessons (thank goodness that is finished & for ever) and heard music & drums in the street we had such a terrible wish to scramble off to the window & have a look at the soldiers, but alas! were seldom allowed to do that! The masters used even to scold us, they said we saw soldiers enough — only babies & the common people who like to look on at such things! what (that) made us frantic & of course made us feel quite the contrary towards military service in the end!!

Я тебя люблю больше всего на свете и с каждым днем еще сильне! Моя ненаглядная прелесть! Жизнь свою за тебя с радостью отдал — бы! Душка.

Above: Nicholas and Alix. Photo courtesy of TatianaZ on Flickr.

Note: "Я тебя люблю больше всего на свете и с каждым днем еще сильне! Моя ненаглядная прелесть! Жизнь свою за тебя с радостью отдал — бы! Душка." = "I love you more than anything in the world and every day even stronger! My beloved darling! I would gladly give my life for you — I would! Sweety."