maidservant, of Suchdol
“I scrub, milk, and haul all day for Mistress Beatrice while others sit about. I know enough to keep my head down and do my work, even if the load is meant for three.”
Things Anna had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Monday after Ascension, at Sext
The Mistress is counting the purse again. She claims pennies are missing from the oak lockbox. I told her Juliana was dusting in there yesterday, acting as nervous as a sinner at judgment. Sakra, I have my own work to do without being looked at twice.
Nota scribaeDictated in a whisper behind the byre.
the eve of St Mark, at Vespers
Mistress Beatrice wants eight eggs to bake a cake for her late Jezhek, God rest him. The hens have stopped laying. I told her a fox frightened them, but she wants me to go to the market. Bloody hell, I am not going. Let Juliana do it.
The market is your duty, girl. Do not make me tell you again, or you will feel my temper.
the third day of Easter week, at Prime
Caught Thomas and John throwing dice in the barn again. John was sweating like a pig and lost the Mistress's good tin plate to his brother. Thomas is a cruel bastard, but John is just pathetic. I kept my mouth shut, as crossing Thomas brings nothing but trouble.
the Tuesday after St Gregory, at Terce
That dog Colle has been at widow Betty's pigeons again. It was Juliana's turn to watch the beast, not mine. When Betty sends the bailiff round, I hope the fine falls right on Juliana's head. I have enough debts of my own.
I was busy turning the cheese! You were just standing there watching him run off.
Candlemas, at None
Thomas is screaming about the rain coming through the roof of the outbuilding again. He can curse Francis all he wants, but the man is in Kuttenberg and won't spend a single groschen on repairs. At least Hugh helped me carry the heavy water buckets from the well today.
Aye, my back is breaking, but I couldn't leave you to struggle. Pray Saint Barbara forgives my broken vow.
Nota scribaeThe maid used very foul words when speaking of the elder son.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You lying cow, I never touched the box! You were the one lingering by the hearth!
If I find who has been at the silver, they will be out on the road before Vespers.