Free Amelia Grey - [Rogues' Dynasty 06] by The Rogue Steals a Bride

me to do something. You know what that brooch means to me.”
    “I do.” Sir Randolph sighed. “All right, I’ll make some inquiries on Bow Street and see whom we need to contact to do something more than is being done now. But I don’t want you thinking this will be an easy process.”
    “I know.” She heaved a sigh of relief, rose and gave him a quick hug, and then backed away, smiling. “Thank you.”
    “There’s one more thing,” he said. “Even if we are never successful in finding the brooch, you have your mother’s memory in your heart. You will never lose that.”
    Sophia’s chest constricted. She batted her lashes to force back the tears that leaped into her eyes and threatened to roll down her cheeks. He was right. She had memories of her mother humming a melody while softly brushing Sophia’s hair. She would always hold them dear. But it was so much more meaningful to have something she could hold in the palm of her hand and touch.
    “If that proves to be the case, I will accept it. At least I’ll know I didn’t give up without a fight.” She swallowed hard and clasped her hands together in front of her, forcing sad memories to the back of her mind. “There’s more I’d like to discuss with you.”
    Sir Randolph grunted a laugh. “That doesn’t surprise me. What is it?”
    “I was wondering when Mr. Peabody was going to bring Shevington’s account books for us to go over.”
    “The account books?” he questioned, looking as if he had no idea what she was talking about. “I really don’t know. How long has it been since he was here?”
    Sophia knew. “He hasn’t been to London since I arrived. The last I saw him was when the two of you came to the Cotswolds, which was six weeks ago. Would you mind asking him to bring them to London so we can have a look at them?”
    Sir Randolph unfolded his arms and walked behind his desk. “I didn’t realize it had been that long. I’ll send him a letter and ask him to come to London next week, but I don’t think it’s necessary, Sophia. Mr. Peabody seems to be doing a fine job. Your father trusted him.”
    After their return from Baltimore, her father knew there would be no recovery for him, and a relatively slow death from his lung condition. She asked if she might be allowed to do most of the paperwork, help in decision-making, and let her father sign everything. At first he was reluctant, but finally agreed when Sophia reminded him that she needed to know enough about the company to ensure that her guardian and trustee, and later her husband, took proper care of the shipping empire her father had built.
    “Oh, I believe Mr. Peabody is doing a good job, too. Papa always said we should trust the work and words of every employee, but then we verify what was said and that the work was accomplished.”
    Sir Randolph placed the documents he’d collected in a folder and placed them under his arm. “Quite frankly, Sophia, with Mr. Peabody’s office in Southampton, I find it difficult to remember to ask him to make the trip over here.”
    “I agree, which brings me to my third request.”
    The old man’s eyes squinted as if he were looking into the sun. He took the folder and laid it back on his desk. “How many requests do you have for me today?”
    She smiled guiltily. “One more, I promise. I know my father used Southampton for Shevington’s offices for years because it was such a busy port, but I think we should move them here to London.” She hurried on, not wanting to give him time to tell her all the reasons why they shouldn’t. “It would be ever so much easier for us to keep a watchful eye and know what is happening in the company. If I’m remembering correctly, we own some space down at the docks. We could move our offices there.”
    His gaze searched her face, and once again he leaned a hip against his desk. “We could, except for the fact that I leased that space last fall.”
    “Oh.” She thought for a moment. “That