"There's a merchant family I want information from the records of - without alerting them that those records have been accessed."

"So I can't be seen entering or take the records. I'll have to memorize them or make a copy."

"Precisely."

"Is the layout of the building and the location of the records known?"

"I have the layout and the probable location of the records."

"May I study them to plan my route?"

"Of course, beautiful."

"Thank you, mistress."

Kiss! "I'll have them brought over, as well as all other information I have on the location and the family."

"I'm looking for evidence of what sea routes their business with Rome uses for what - it doesn't need to be enough to be damning, just enough to give privateers ideas."

"Do we know some friendly privateers?"

"Something better: Adallindis knows some friendly privateers."

"Ooh."

Smug grin. "Gaining you was very timely."

Return smirk.

"A significant step in making me indispensable in the royal family's minds."

"I won't fail you, mistress."

"I know you won't, lovely girl."

Kiss.

"Can I see the plans now?"

"Of course." She gets up and leads Berenike to the office she does most of her initial campaign planning in, quickly locating the relevant documents while verbally summarizing what other things they know. 

Berenike asks cogent questions, insightfully picking out the details she needs to come up with a simple, workable plan.

She keeps up - and they do have quite a lot here, though Berenike will still need to be cautious and gather her own information on the ground, see what the current conditions are. 

Staying flexible is important.

In more ways than one.

Yyyep.

And confirming the existence of that flexibility is very enjoyable.