Sources:
Alexandra Feodorovna: Diaries and Correspondence, volume 2: Engagement and Marriage, 1894, pages 157 to 159, by George Hawkins, 2023
George Hawkins at Letters and writings of Nicholas II and his family on Facebook
The letter excerpt:
... We got to the Wolferton station at 11.15 and a. Alix and the girls met me and brought me to their house. The drive through their woods was charming, there blew such a delightful fresh breeze fr the sea. I rushed through the house, looked hurriedly at the rooms and then we all left for the horse-sale near Kings-Lynn. U Bertie was as funny as usual, and in the carriage there were two or three misunderstandings between him and a. Alix. That always happens because she does not hear what he says and he hates to repeat his own words. We soon arrived at that place and went into an enormous tent where about 200 farmers and horse dealers were eating. We all sat down at a table higher than the others and had our lunch, quite like on the stage. I thought of you my precious one and how you would have laughed looking at all those people walking, sitting and eating away.
After that began the horse sale. We sat in a sort of box as one sits in for the races, and everywhere round there were crowds of people gaping more at us than the horses. 50 horses were soled [sic] for auction and just fancy lausbub let himself be tempted by two beauties of chestnut (mares). The foolish people thumped with their sticks and cheered when it was proclaimed I had bought two. But towards the end, it became perfectly intolerable as it never seemed to finish and the weather suddenly got cold and very windy. Oh! how I bored myself then and how I wished I were comfortably seated near my darling in her tiny room at Windsor.
The letter in full:
June 16/28 1894
Sandringham, Norfolk
N45
My own sweet precious beloved Darling,
Here I am sitting in my room, scribbling to you in by no means a merry mood! I have got a strong neuralgia (that never happens to me) and I miss my little girly-dear most awfully. It was more painful than I can tell you to have to say good-bye even for a day and a half on such a bright lovely morning — we might have spent together at Frogmore after breakfast.
I was happy to have caught a glimpse of your sweet face looking out of the window as I drove down to the station. As long as I could I tried not to lose the castle out of my sight, until at a curve some noughty trees shut it quite out. The heat in the train was abominable, I perspired as the performance of the new famous play called "Die verhängnissvolle Schlüssel" made me sweat then! But I was comforted by the thought that atleast my beloved little child was not with me, so did not suffer from that stifling heat. Col. Byng was kind enough to take some sandwiches and fruit with him; the latter was so refreshing!
We got to the Wolferton station at 11.15 and a. Alix and the girls met me and brought me to their house. The drive through their woods was charming, there blew such a delightful fresh breeze fr the sea. I rushed through the house, looked hurriedly at the rooms and then we all left for the horse-sale near Kings-Lynn. U Bertie was as funny as usual, and in the carriage there were two or three misunderstandings between him and a. Alix. That always happens because she does not hear what he says and he hates to repeat his own words. We soon arrived at that place and went into an enormous tent where about 200 farmers and horse dealers were eating. We all sat down at a table higher than the others and had our lunch, quite like on the stage. I thought of you my precious one and how you would have laughed looking at all those people walking, sitting and eating away.
After that began the horse sale. We sat in a sort of box as one sits in for the races, and everywhere round there were crowds of people gaping more at us than the horses. 50 horses were soled for auction and just fancy lausbub let himself be tempted by two beauties of chestnut (mares). The foolish people thumped with their sticks and cheered when it was proclaimed I had bought two. But towards the end, it became perfectly intolerable as it never seemed to finish and the weather suddenly got cold and very windy. Oh! how I bored myself then and how I wished I were comfortably seated near my darling in her tiny room at Windsor.
We drove home for tea, then it was that the neuralgia came on. It was vile! The right eye ran with tears so strong was the pain. And so I had to walk about the garden, admire the stables, the dogs, two goats and other objects. I pretty nearly went mad, when I came home Victoria gave me something to soothe the pain, wh really helped.
For dinner there came all the gentlemen staying in the house, 22, more or less impossible company. Even Aunt Alix never knew some of them before. During dinner I got your second dear telegram which made the "корова" so happy on account of the "курица."
Oh! my sweet darling! I love you, I love you, 't'is all that I can say!!! I miss you now in the evening so dreadfully when the others are gone to bed. We played at skittles after dinner, I am proud to say that I beat all the gentlemen!
I suppose you shall get this letter a little before I turn up wh shall be after the Arch-Duke's arrival. Toria's and Maud's rooms are sweet and so prettily arranged, they have done everything afresh after the fire in 1891. We two are invited to a family lunch before the garden-party, at Marlborough House at 2.0.
Now, my own precious sweet little Alix I must end. Many a blessing and a kiss do I send you my true love. Trust your ever loving, truly devoted and deeply adoring old Nicky
душка, прелесть моя!
Above: Nicholas and Alix.
Notes: "Die verhängnissvolle Schlüssel" = "The Key of Fate".
корова = cow.
курица = hen.
"душка, прелесть моя!" = "darling, my pet!"
No comments:
Post a Comment