Her shock showed, as did her feelings concerning the doctor’s attitude towards Nicky and his uncles’ attitude towards him. Before long her presence at Livadia became very unwelcome and, as the Tsar’s condition continued to deteriorate, the superstitious Russian household blamed Alicky, muttering amongst themselves that she had brought bad luck into the country with her.

Three days later, and without the doctor’s attitude or that of his uncles towards Nicky having changed, Tsar Alexander kissed his wife, took a last agonized breath and slid from this world into the next.

If things in the palace had been chaotic before, they were even more chaotic now that the giant who had ruled Russia so ably was there to do so no longer. Nicky was shattered by grief and in despair. Over and over again he said, ‘I’m not ready to be Tsar, Alicky. I’ve never wanted to become Tsar. I don’t know how to become Tsar!’

‘Yes, you do, my darling.’ She was as firm as, only a few months ago, Willy had been with her. ‘God’s plan has always been for you to be Tsar. Becoming Tsar is your God-given destiny, Nicky. You must put your trust in Him, as I do, and all will be well.’

Uncle Vladimir burst in on them.

‘There’s no coffin!’ he said explosively. ‘For weeks Sasha has been slowly dying and yet there’s no coffin and no embalming arrangements in place.’

As Nicky frantically tried to get his head around all the arrangements that it now seemed were up to him and not, as he had imagined they would be, up to the Minister of the Imperial Court, Uncle Alexis put his head round the door. ‘Everything is ready for the oath of allegiance, Nicky,’ he said tersely. ‘The priests have had a field altar set up in the garden. Household staff, officials and courtiers are already assembled and the family are now on their way down.’

Nicky sucked in a deep, steadying breath. This was it – this was the moment he had dreaded all his life, and which he had hoped he wouldn’t have to face for another couple of decades. His eyes met Alicky’s and, drawing strength from the total love he saw in their blue-grey depths, and with her at his side, he walked out of the room and out of the palace.

It was twilight and, beneath a blood-red sky, priests in golden robes faced a large group of family and courtiers. From nearby Yalta came the sound of the guns of the Russian fleet booming a tribute. Livadia’s church bells tolled.

Alicky came to a halt beside Minny. A white-faced Nicky took his place in front of Father Yanishev, his father’s confessor. The guns fell silent and, as Father Yanishev administered the oath, Minny could be heard stifling a sob.