Page 1: It was Unexpected

Well and hey, this is finally getting started! I'm posting today to elaborate on page 1 of Siloen. It's a bit early to discuss plot or characters, so let's start with what we see: a letter, a watch, a chain, and a ribbon.

The letter: Did you know that envelopes didn't exist in the 1700s? You would write your letter, fold and seal it with wax, and send it on its way. Stamps hadn't been invented yet either. The recipient had to pay in order to receive their letters! They were charged by the page. Economy-minded writers would fill a page, turn it sideways and fill it again- sometimes, they would then write more on the diagonal, making it thoroughly illegible!
To recieve a black-bordered letter was bad news, usually news of a death. This was true in Britain until around WW2.

The watch: Watches were a sign of social status. A chain or fob for your watch meant you were wealthy. A watch in each pocket meant you were both wealthy and showing off! Soldiers and working men might have a pocket watch, either handed down or stolen, but it would be strung on a ribbon. (And thank you to the reenactor from the Fair at New Boston for your help and your amusing stories!)
It was another Georgian superstition that in the house were someone had died, clocks would be stopped, and mirrors were turned to face the wall, so the spirit would not become trapped in them.

The chain and the ribbon: There were strict rules on how one dressed during mourning, and it went well beyond black armbands. Men wore black or somber colors, of course, removed any jewelry. Shiny and fancy buttons were replaced with plain ones, and unnecessary buttons (there for show) were removed from the cuffs and pockets.
The shiny watch chain is being swapped out for the black ribbon, but its presence is also symbolic, the watch for mortality and the chain for the ties that bind. For more on this topic, I recommend googling 'Georgian mourning jewelry'.

Thanks for reading!