The man looked up, shading his eyes from the sun where it shone through the trees. “You don’t happen to have a spare wheel, do you?”
Theo shook his head. “We don’t, I’m afraid. But we’re on our way into town. I can send someone out here if you like.”
The man wiped the sweat building along his receding hairline. “I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but I’m not sure they’ll get out here quickly enough. I’m carrying a load of rare plants for the Earl of Southbury, and they’re already wilting in this heat.” He dropped his head and sighed. “It will cost a fortune to lose them.”
Jade glanced to Theo as if suddenly hit with an idea, continuing with Theo’s use of accent. “Surely we could take them back to the estate.”
Theo pretended to consider Jade’s suggestion, chewing on the inside of his cheek. The delivery driver angled his head toward them, as though he was listening but not trying to make it too obvious.
“What’s your name, sir?” Jade asked the man, her teeth gleaming in a disarming smile.
The man frowned in confusion before replying, “Thierry.”
“Do you have more deliveries to make today, Thierry?”
“I do,” he replied. “I have two more in the wagon, then I’m to return to Ferryman’s and reload.”
“That’s quite a few deliveries for this late in the season,” Jade pointed out, cocking her head to the side.
Thierry strode toward his horses, his gait slow and strained, and stroked one’s long neck. “Well, we’re a bit behind. I’m the only one handling deliveries at the moment, and I hurt my back making a delivery last week. Sonow I’ve got a few days to make up, but I can’t even move quickly because of my back.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that,” Jade said, then sought Theo again. “Surely we can help him. He’s injured and doesn’t even have his wagon now.”
“I don’t know,” Theo said in a lower voice that the man could still hear. “It’s out of our way. We have a lot to do today.”
Jade turned sorrowful eyes onto the man. “But he needs help. Our wagon is empty. It’s the least we could do.”
“Well,” Theo said as he rubbed his chin, “I suppose you’re right.” He returned his attention to the man at the wagon wheel. “We can take your delivery to Southbury, if it would be helpful. We’ve just come from there, but we can turn back to ensure the plants arrive safely.”
Jade leaned in the direction of the man from her seat on the wagon, as if she was about to share a secret with him. “We know Lord Marchand is quite particular about his plants. I would hate to see them arrive spoiled.”
Thierry narrowed his eyes, studying the two of them, and then his gaze drifted to the wagon where the seal was painted. He sighed, and his tension released. “It would be a great help to me. I’m grateful for your kindness.”
Jade hopped down, smiling broadly at the man. “What kind of world would we live in if we didn’t show unconditional kindness to one another?” She went around to the back of the wagon before waiting for his response, prompting the man to follow her and open the enclosed wagon. Theo climbed down and opened the door to their own wagon, then joined Jade and the delivery driver as they gathered plants to load.
“It’s all of these here,” the man said, circling his hand in the air over the section of the wagon’s contents as his other hand pressed against a spot on his back. Then he mumbled, half under his breath, “Of course, only his are the exotic ones that aren’t stable in our climate.”
Jade and Theo grabbed pot after pot, transferring the plants from one wagon to another. As Jade carried the plants, she chatted with Thierry,keeping his attention so he wouldn’t notice Theo pull Marchand’s order slip from the man’s records.
Once the transfer was complete, the captains climbed back onto their wagon’s seat, and Thierry waved. “I do appreciate your help. Tell the gardeners to get those plants watered as soon as possible.”
Theo nodded. “We will. Happy to be of assistance. Good day to you.”
“Good day, Thierry!” Jade said, beaming. The moment Theo turned the horses around and they faced away from the other wagon, Jade’s smile fell. “You got the order slip?”
Theo tugged a small piece of paper from his trouser pocket. “Right here.”
“Perfect. I’ll change first. You get the sign.”
They drove off in the direction of Southbury Estate, putting a good amount of distance between themselves and the delivery wagon before Theo pulled over at a curve in the road. The limited view down the road in both directions allowed them a hiding spot in plain sight. Both espionage agents dropped from the bench and went to the back of the wagon.
Theo retrieved two pieces of wood connected by two long ropes, turning them over to reveal signage for the plant nursery where Marchand had ordered his latest additions. While he took the signs out to hang over the wagon and cover the Southbury seal, Jade slipped out of her maid’s outfit in the back of the wagon. She changed into a plain pink cotton dress, listening intently for the sound of any other wagons coming up the road. She returned to the front bench, and Theo took his turn to change just as a carriage rumbled toward them. Jade inclined her head in greeting to the driver before catching sight of the carriage’s occupants.
Lord Marchand and his wife, Elodie, both met Jade’s eyes. Jade plastered a tight smile across her face as her pulse pounded in her ears. She dipped her head toward the earl and countess, thankful she and Theo had already covered Marchand’s seal on the side of their wagon.
Keep going, nothing to see here.
Marchand’s hand raised to hit the ceiling of the carriage, and the driver brought them to a halt.
