Jenny couldn't imagine many maids spending their evenings curled next to an open fire, in the largest room of their mistress's house, but then she couldn't imagine many maids serving a mistress quite like Vastra. Her mouth curved into a smile as she reflected on how truly fortunate she was, sitting next to the bravest women she knew, and her mind cast itself back to their first meeting.
She had been much younger, barely out of her teens and living rough on the harsh streets of London city. The homeless did what was needed to survive but the absence of bare necessaries made life incredibly hard. Whisperings began of a hooded figure, who saved those in need, rich or poor. Someone willing to help the 'low life's' of London was worth watching out for, and these rumours were quick to catch Jenny's attention. Jenny could remember feeling a sense of longing to meet, or at least see this person, thoughts of what they might look like keep her mind distracted through long winter nights. The time Jenny had long waited for finally came on a partially harsh night, as she sat slumped against a wall in an alley way, failing to keep herself warm and fall asleep. A dark silhouette caught her attention, it was a man, very drunk judging from the stumbling walk, and Jenny let her gaze fall from the figure, not noticing anything particularly interesting. What made her look up sharply though, was how he stopped and looked at her huddled form, she had expected him to pass her, being homeless left you invisible to most. Her heart began to beat faster and he leant down towards her. Unable to move from a mix of fear and cold, she winced as the strong smell of whiskey invaded her nostrils. He grabbed at her wrist, she tried to twist away and scream but fear left her mute and unable to move, breathing rapidly Jenny shut her eyes tightly, wishing the towering drunkard away from her. She felt his rough hands start to explore her shivering form and began mentally praying to a God for any sort of salvation to save her from this fate. The man suddenly fell back which made Jenny snap her eyes open to see what had happened, he had collapsed in a heap on the floor, Jenny presumed it was from his drunken state but then the smell of blood hit the air. It was only then that she noticed the dark figure in the shadows of the alleyway, a figure that was holding a sword of some kind, blood dripping off the end. Jenny stood up to catch a closer look at her hooded savour, only to realise that this was the person the whispers had been about, quickly forgetting the now dead man she walked closer to the figure. A gust of wind blew back the hood, not all the way but far enough for Jenny to catch a glimpse of the face behind it, she let out a soft gasp at the sight of a feminine face with green scales, this was like nothing she had seen before but she made no move to get away from the mysterious women with lizard like features. Silently, the women stalked off back down the alley way, leaving Jenny to stare after her still in shock.
Over the following months, Jenny roamed the streets looking for her rescuer, either to thank her to catch a glimpse of her again. She stuck to back alleyways and the places she knew crimes went on and she eventually did start to see her more often. Jenny stuck to the shadows as to not catch her attention, admiring her skills as she struck down countless criminals. Jenny later learnt that the species homo-reptilia could see quite a lot better in the dark than humans, and so no wonder Vastra had noticed Jenny in the shadows all that time and eventually approached her.
Jenny's mind brought itself back to the present day, where she cast her glaze over her mistress sleeping form next to the blazing fire and let out a contented sigh. She knew that although Vastra took it as her duty to protect those in need in this city, she would always have her maid, and lover to protect her.