I think you would benefit from consulting a very, very smart person, frankly. It's a pity you can't safely bring it up with the wife as 'just a crazy feeling' you have...far be it from me to imagine I know any better that you how your own wife would probably respond to this! So...if you
can't open up to her without damaging their relationship, then at least you know one thing (I hope): if your relationship with SIL
were c"v to escalate in a bad direction, you would certainly then be ready to sacrifice
their relationship for
your marriage, right? I assume 'chayecho kodmin' sits well with you. No?
OK. So now, what do do. At the least 1- pray for SIL regularly. 2- Ask your G-d for guidance and hatzlocha even if you are not to have clear guidance in this matter. 3- Try to get advice from a very smart, discreet, and safe person who knows your family and some of the 'facts on the ground'. And 4- please explain to me that the heck you meant by this really interesting sounding question:
You zeroed in on the idea of a pattern like a guided missile. I am wondering if I am better off reducing this relationship to an expression of my general desire to have these ladies-in-waiting, and know that since this SIL is one with whom I have more direct contact (a couple of times a year), I have to be more intense in my efforts to end the relationship from my side.
Thanks!