Part 1: Chapter 4 Summary and Analysis

Upon his return to Gatchina, Nicholas finds his family very concerned about the health of his father. The Tsar finally agrees with the doctors and travel to the Crimea for a rest. The family has a summer palace at Livadia and Nicholas finally decides to travel there with them. The Tsar's health worsened steadily in the Crimea. Nicholas, knowing that his father is dying, wires Alix to travel to the Crimea, which she does. She informs Nicholas that she wants her religious conversion ceremony to take place as soon as she arrives. Nicholas makes the four-hour journey to Simferpol to meet Alix's train. When they return to Livadia, they find Tsar Alexander III waiting for them in full military dress. They receive his blessing and become formally engaged.

All of the attention was focused on the dying tsar so...