Jenny watched from the hallway as Vastra and Alice talked and laughed. Alice leaned against Vastra, almost laying on top of her, and Vastra's arms were tight around her, holding her close and stroking her hair. Jenny sank to the floor, crying silently as she watched the pair, for she was sure that Alice Had come here to steal Vastra from her, and it seemed to be working.
Jenny was too far away to hear exactly what they were saying to each other, but she saw the way Vastra's eyes lit up as,she listened. Jealousy coursed through her like a red hot fire. Vastra was always so reserved, so proper with her, but was now laughing at something Alice was saying.
She watched angrily, wanting to claw Alice's eyes out, wanting to throw her under a carriage pulled by runaway horses. Alice was stealing HER wife. Her Vastra. The thought made Jenny's blood boil.
"Jenny dear. Please hurry-"Vastra called out, her voice carrying easily through the hallway.
"Coming Ma'am." Jenny called, entering the room. "Did you need anything else?"
"Yes. Stoke the fire, if you could. I fear Alice is soon to be taken with chill." Jenny hated the concern in Vastra's voice, the look on her eyes as she stroked the other human's hair.
"Of course Ma'am" Jenny angrily tossed several large logs into the fire, sending it into roaring flames with in a few minutes. Vastra seemed oblivious to Jenny's feelings. It seemed that Alice was her only concern.
After several agonizing minutes, Jenny stood. "I'm going to start supper now Ma'am.". She left the room in tears.
She had to get rid of Alice. That was the only way. Jenny smiled, a plan already piecing together in her brain. She'd send her out, to market, and have one of the six-pence lackey boys scare her a bit, make her run far far away from here, back to her orphanage, and she would have Vastra back.
Jenny grinned as she chopped onions and carrots for the stew. She thought of how things used to be, her and Vastra, laughing as she cooked dinner, playing chess by the fire before bed. Running through the dark streets, chasing criminals. Her heart ached as she felt lonely , in this big kitchen, all by herself. Just like when Vastra first hired her. She would be alone while she cooked, and cleaned, treated just like all the other maids.
But after she got rid of Alice everything would be right again.