maidservant at the bathhouse, of Certovka
“I haul boiling water up the stairs and scrub the dirt off foreign soldiers until my spine cracks. I keep to myself, brew willow bark, and count my pennies.”
Things Matilda had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Thursday before Pentecost, at Vespers
Christ almighty, the bruising on my ribs is black as pitch from this rag of coin hidden against my chest. But I am nearly there. That clerk Bartholomew will have his forty groschen by Sunday, and I will have a door that locks. Let Anna weep into her ale.
Nota scribaeDictated through gritted teeth. She kept clutching at her bodice.
the second day of Easter week, at None
These Hungarian whoresons drink like fish and bleed mud. Hauled twenty buckets today just to get the grime off one captain. But he dropped a whole groschen and I made sure it found my pocket before the master saw. The Lord provides.
the eve of Palm Sunday, at Compline
Sold three bundles of willow bark to the young maidservants downstairs for their cramps. Pennies make groschen. Every step up those stairs feels like a knife in my lower back, but I won't end up begging at the church door.
Taking copper from poor girls in pain to buy a hovel you can barely sweep. Shame on you.
the Tuesday after St Gregory, at Sext
Passed that foolish tavern housekeeper Anna by the stream. She gave me a dirty look like I stole her supper. She thinks she can save enough for old Katchka's cottage by smiling at hired hands. The girl does not know what real work is.
Nota scribaeShe spat into the dirt after saying the girl's name.
the second day of Lent, at Prime
Old Katchka died of the winter fever. Well, she has a rest from hauling water now, God keep her. But that means her cottage by the stream is empty. The clerk put a note on the door demanding forty groschen for the lease by Pentecost. I am going to get it.
God rest her soul. It is a lovely little place, perfect for starting fresh.
Nota scribaeDictated while she wrung out rags. She stopped wringing when she mentioned the price.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You will be dead of a cracked spine before you move a single pot in, you bitter old bat. The lease is mine.
We will see who Bartholomew takes coin from first, you naive little fool.