tradesman's wife of Kuttenberg, of Kuttenberg
“I am a respectable wife keeping a fine house for my husband. I just need a drop of ale to settle my nerves when it gets too quiet.”
Things Lida Spicer had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the eve of Pentecost, at Vespers
Sovka Hill poked her beak into my kitchen again today, bleating about the hearth fire and the smell of smoke. I am not some daft child who needs a nursemaid! I told her to go worry about her own cabbages and leave a respectable wife in peace.
Nota scribaeShe leaned heavily on my table to say this, and her breath smelled strongly of sour ale.
the Tuesday after Ascension, at Sext
Bought a fine cut of pork at the market today. Denis brings home the coin, and I see to it we eat well. My head aches terrible this morning, though. A drop of ale is the only thing that clears the fog.
You left the pork sitting on the butcher's block, Lida. I had my boy carry it to your yard.
the third day of Easter week, at None
I still cannot find it. I have swept every corner and moved the chests twice over. It is only a cheap brass band, not worth a penny to a pawnbroker, but it was on my mother's hand when she died. Christ almighty, the shame of it is eating my heart.
Pray to Saint Anthony, Lida. He finds what is lost. My mother Beatrice always swore by him.
Nota scribaeShe wept openly for a time, wiping her nose on her sleeve, before continuing.
the eve of Palm Sunday, at Terce
Denis works from dawn to dark, and without his cousin Paul here to talk to, the afternoons stretch out like a winter road. Paul always listened to my chatter. Now there is just the empty house, and the shadows, and the ale-pot to keep me company.
I work to keep a roof over us, Lida. And the supper you made yesterday was black as pitch.
The fire was too hot, husband! I will watch the pot better tomorrow, I swear it.
the Tuesday after Candlemas, at Prime
The soldiers on the roads make everything dear, but Denis earns a steady wage. We want for nothing. I just wish I could remember where I put my mother's ring. I took it off to scrub the pots, and the devil himself must have snatched it.
The soldiers took two of our best hens last week. You are lucky Denis has his trade.
Nota scribaeShe slurred her words slightly, though it was not yet noon.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I only wanted to make sure you had not fallen asleep, Lida. Someone has to look out for you.
Mind your own door, Sovka. My house is perfectly fine.