Exactly how steamy is this story?
G
Here's the thing: it's clear that a lot—we repeat, a lot—of sex is happening in Maisie's world. But there are some things that even the sharpest kids can't understand. And the birds and the bees are foremost among these.
Since the novel's point of view is so close to Maisie's throughout, we don't actually see or hear any sex. Sex is only hinted at indirectly, and even then, it's above Maisie's head. This doesn't mean that it's above the reader's head, of course, but it does mean that the novel is pretty proper from start to finish. James indirectly alludes to steaminess rather than telling us about—let alone showing—sex.