housekeeper at the seventh parcel, of Miskowitz
“I manage the eggs, the milk, and the ale, seeing that nothing goes to waste in hard times.”
Things Annabel had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Compline
Grain and tallow cost twice what they did last year. I must portion our meals strictly so we have enough to sell. I left three pennies on the kitchen table to see if they might be mislaid, but they remained untouched by Vespers. I put them back in the coffer.
the Friday after Easter, at None
When I tallied the household takings on Sunday evening, four groschen and twelve pennies were gone from the locked coffer. Kona taught me to guard the purse, and I know exactly what is there. I will not bear false witness without proof, but the house feels very tense.
Nota scribaeShe wiped her hands on her apron no fewer than four times while dictating this.
the eve of St Tiburtius, at Terce
The carters bring nothing but bad news of the Hungarian troops on the roads. Everything is dear. A single bad harvest or a foraging soldier could ruin the balance of my ledger. I pray the Lord keeps the roads safe, for we rely on honest work to see us through.
the Monday after St Gregory, at Sext
Clemence scrubs the floorboards until her hands are raw. I pity her loss, for her brother Francis died of the flux in the levy camps at Prague, but her frantic energy puts me on edge. She flinches at every sound and will not meet my eye.
I only wish to keep the floors clean as you like them, mistress. Francis would want me to work hard.
Candlemas, at Prime
It has been three winters since the sweating sickness took Kona. God rest her soul. I still use her old willow tally stick to record the surplus eggs and home-brewed ale. Remembering her charity, I have taken on a destitute girl to help with the kitchen work.
Nota scribaeThe woman spoke very precisely and insisted I read the words back to her.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
I scrubbed around the table as you asked, mistress. The pennies were safe.