The two, black and brown, mares pulling the packed wooden cart had stopped in front of a large wooden gate. A guard, wearing a maille shirt over a red padded jacket, a kettle helmet, a shield on his back and a sword on his waist, approached Lucas, who wore a red hood over a white tunic with floral patterns, dark green trousers, and leather shoes, and his hair was tied behind his head, was holding the reins,

“State your business,’ the guard commanded.

“I am mister Lucas, the tailor.”

“Ah, yes, of course, the lady had sent for you. Do you have the letter?”

Lucas took the letter from inside his coat and handed it to the guard, the latter opened it and read.

“Mister Lucas Shearman the third-“

“Son of Lucas the third, I am Lucas Shearman the fourth, my father had died a year ago, so I took over the shop, naturally,” he intervened. The guard gave him a strange look, with his hand on his sword, he walked around the cart and inspected every corner and board. Jane, who was seated at the back of the cart, sat silently with her eyes on the ground, her plain yellow dress contrasting with her black hair caught the guard’s eyes and he suddenly paused for a second to look at her face then continued with his inspection.

“Alright, you can go inside.”

The gates slowly opened, and the mare walked in. The keep, with its two large stone towers at the front, overshadowed the front yard and the cart. Wooden walls covered with white plaster, and towers surrounded the pale grey keep. Eyes from the battlements followed the cart slowly making way on the dirt path towards the keep’s dark wooden doors.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Servants welcomed them as they reached the front of the keep. Jane and the keep’s servants begun taking and carrying the fabrics and chests from the cart and Lucas handed the reins to the stable boy afterwards.

Behind the front doors was the castle’s hall, two rows with four stone pillars each, lined up towards the lord’s dark oak table and decorated chairs where his family is seated. Between the two rows of pillars were a long red carpet on the stone floor with five iron candle stands on each side. The sun’s rays enter through the thin windows and dimly lit up the wide empty hall. At the left of the lord’s table was a door, Lucas and Jane entered and was led by the servants carrying their materials which was led by a woman in red, it led to a hallway which had red and white painted on the upper and lower walls respectively, decorated by paintings of the lords that owned the castle through the centuries.

The couple and the servants ascended the stairs at the end of the hallway and walked through another one. The servants stopped at the fourth door from the stairs,

“Lady Elizabeth is waiting for you inside,” the lead servant said.

Lucas opened the door and entered followed by his wife and then the servants. Half of the room was lit buy the sunlight that entered through a single window and the other half was lit by candles placed at the sides of the white painted stone walls. Below the window was a bed for two, at the end of the bed was a decorated dark wooden chair with red cushions where Elizabeth was seated dressed in a plain blue dress matching her eyes and her blonde hair was tied at the back of her head, she had a book in her hand. The couple bowed and so did the servants, as they raised their heads, Jane watches her husband’s face, observing any reaction upon seeing the beautiful wife of the castle’s knight.

“I’m Lucas the tailor, my lady. Shall I begin?” he said nervously.

“Yes, Mister Lucas,” Elizabeth replied as she stood up and put her book on the bed. She walked towards the tailor and spread her arms. Her blue dress was closely fitted enough to reveal more accurate measurements for the tailor. Lucas opened a small chest and took out his measuring tape. Jane watched every movement of her husband’s, she measured how close his fingers were from the lady’s body, every movement of his ten digits were followed by her two eyes. As Jane watched Lucas’ hands, Elizabeth noticed his eyes squinting on the book she left.