Chapter 2 - Laying plans

Jenny sat quietly in front of her makeup mirror, as Maia – who was one of Jenny's personal maids – combed her hair.

"Oh, Mrs Huxley, you are so lucky that Mr Huxley is such an important man. He is really making a difference in the world," Maia said. "I'm sure he will win the award for 'most innovative inventions'"

Jenny could hear the admiration in Maia's voice, and normally she would have joined in on the praise of her husband, but that was before she had discovered that he was cheating on her. That was before he had decided to bring his mistress into the household to become a part of their lives. Jenny could no longer stand her husband – not even when you considered his perfectly created face and strong body. The silky-brown hair she had admired before. His scent of pine trees and how incredibly clever he was. No, Jenny reminded herself, she no longer liked any of that.

"Did you know Maia?"

"Knew what Mrs.?"

Jenny sighed, "Did you know that he was cheating on me?"

Maia stopped combing and their eyes met briefly in the mirror before Maia looked away. But Jenny had already seen the thoughts hiding behind those eyes. "So, you have betrayed me too?" Jenny sighed, "it's alright. I can imagine the situation you must have been in."

"Does that mean…" Maia paused, "does that mean you forgive me Mrs." she carefully continued combing, "does that mean I can keep my job."

Jenny nodded, "I am not cruel," Jenny said, though she doubted her words as soon as she had said them. She had had the most terrible thoughts about what she would do to Ezra, and she still strongly intended to get her revenge in the most horrible way possible. Preferably without going to prison herself, though, she thought.

"Though," Jenny added and grinned slightly, "I do need you to do me a favour."

Maia nodded eagerly, "yes Mrs. anything for you, anything."

"There are three things: first I need you to learn the name of this mistress – and that is before tomorrow."

Maia nodded.

"Secondly, I need you to leave a little… token of my appreciation," Jenny said and smiled wickedly.

"Yees…" Maia no longer felt so sure about this arrangement.

"Oh, it won't harm her in the least," Jenny said reassuringly, "just… make sure that her place in this house is not mistaken for anything more than what she is. She is simply here to serve and provide. She is not the future of this house."

"Yes, Mrs."

"And thirdly: I need you to find me a lover."

"A LOVER!" Maia screaked out, "but Mrs. you can't you're married."

Jenny lifted her eyebrows. "So is my husband, but that didn't stop him, did it?"

"No Mrs." Maia looked down at the ground.

Jenny turned around in her chair so that she was facing the girl, "now, I'm sure you are more than capable of accomplishing these tasks, and when you do, there might even be a reward waiting for you along the way." Jenny put her finger under Maia's chin and lifted up her head. "How old are you exactly?"

"Seventeen, Mrs."

Jenny nodded, "Yes, alright then." Her finger still held Maia's chin firmly up, "are you comfortable with the task I have given you?" She asked, but quickly decided to elaborate on her question. "I mean, are you comfortable with the nature of your task, with…"

"Yes Mrs," Maia said, jumped away and made a slight curtsy "I'm not shy Mrs, and I know what a human body desire."

Jenny blinked a couple of times in surprise, "yes, yes, alright, that is quite… alright then." She couldn't recall ever having been so comfortable at seventeen as it seemed Maia was. Jenny had been married for three years but she had never been comfortable around her husband when it came to such matters. Sure, she had enjoyed herself, but she had never been comfortable enough to discuss… it. Anyway, that would have to change now. She would enjoy herself more than her husband had ever been capable of pleasing her, and he would regret it, she would make sure that he saw just how much she was about to change. She would become a complete woman in every sense of the word. Jenny smiled as she thought about how her power would shine through her and how miserable her husband would be when she took pleasure in another man.

"Mrs?" Maia asked carefully as she tilted her head a little.

"Yes, oh, yes - you can go," Jenny said with a smile. "But Maia," she continued as Maia was on her way out the door, "not a word to anyone, of course?"

"Of course, Mrs," Maia said, and Jenny thought she noticed a vague grin as Maia practically skipped out the door. At least someone could find joy under the current circumstances Jenny thought.

At the break of dawn, the next, Maia entered Jenny's room and quickly shut the door behind her, "sorry to wake you Mrs, but I thought you might like to know that the mistress has moved in."

Jenny took a deep breath - this wasn't the sort of news she liked hearing first thing in the morning. But of course, she had asked Maia to keep her posted on the matter. "As expected," Jenny said, speaking through a yawn. "And what else do we know about her."

"Her name is miss Lora, I don't know of any last name, it seems no one does," Maia spoke quietly as she walked around the room, pulling the curtains aside and laying out clothing for Jenny. "I asked around to hear if anyone has heard of her before, but she doesn't seem to have any connections to anyone of high standing,"

"Except for my husband you mean," Jenny could feel the bitterness in her voice as she spoke, but she simply couldn't help it. She rose from her bed and got dressed, leaving her shoes for last, "will you get my boots, Maia, I should like to go for a morning ride."

"Yes of course Mrs." Maia turned around to help Jenny with her black laced boots – there were a million buttons to do up. "And regarding the other matters Mrs," Maia smiled, and their eyes met, "I dare say they are taken care of – I stayed up all night you see. I went downtown to…"

"Stop," Jenny quickly said, "the less I know about that the better."

Maia nodded, "but wouldn't you like to know about the lover I have found you?"

Jenny grinned, "you managed to find me a lover in a single night?"

"Well, your beauty is well-known around the city," Maia said and grinned back at her.

Jenny shook her head and laughed, "they do say flattering will get you far. So, when can I meet him?"

Maia pondered for a moment before she answered, "If you would like, I could ask him to join you for your morning ride?"

"Wonderful," Jenny said and stood up with a newfound joy. She would take such pleasure in seeing her husband's face when she rode off with another man.