Tess should leave, she knew she should. Unfortunately for her, the entry door came directly into the sitting room where grunts and moans were originating before their echoes spread throughout the house.
She had never felt as awkward and embarrassed as she did at that moment . Alfie had a private life and what he did in it was none of her business. Except she was his maid and the maids didn't leave. They continued to work while their employers did whatever they did. She couldn't imagine her uncle or cousin having sex in the sitting room for anyone to walk in on but Alfie lived alone and apparently didn't care if his maid saw him in a compromised position.
She had resolved herself to quietly go back to the roof until a respectable amount of time had passed but she didn't move. Instead she found herself listening as the woman with Alfie steadily grew louder. Then Tess heard Alfie curse under his breath. At hearing his husky voice full of lust, a wave of heat went over Tess's body. Tess leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. Her nipples were growing hard and an intense tingle vibrated between her legs. She could feel the moisture soaking her knickers and she squeezed her thighs together.
Tess had never felt desire like this. Alfie cursed again and Tess almost moaned herself. This was wrong, she knew that, but the deep throb between her legs didn't care. She was also curious despite her usual outward insistence that it wasn't proper. Before she could stop herself, she peeked around the corner.
Alfie was behind the woman, one leg on the ground, one knee on the sofa, his hands grasping her hips. The woman was on her knees and forearms on the sofa, her forehead resting against the seat as she moaned passionately.
Tess was mesmerized by Alfie and the way his leg muscles flexed and the tight grip of his hands in her hips. His thrusts became erratic and quick as his eyebrows pulled together and his jaw clenched. Tess pressed herself against the wall, her nipples desperately seeking some sort of contact. She watched Alfie's face grow tight as he gave two last hard thrusts and then a look of pure pleasure and peace washed over his expression.
Alfie remained still for a moment as he caught his breath and Tess drew away from the corner as he began to open his eyes, afraid he would catch her watching. She moved as quietly as she could back to where she had left the bedsheets and buried her face in her hands. Her body ached in ways it never had before and that intense, throbbing tingle remained between her legs. She needed to gain control of herself again. Grabbing a set of bedsheets she began to fold them. Mr. Solomons had already paid her for the week and the bedsheets were her last task.
Guilt was beginning to set in as she finished folding the last set of sheets. Desperate not to see his face for fear of revealing that she had watched, she cautiously moved to his bedroom. Hearing the shower running, she quickly deposited the sheets on the trunk at the foot of his bed and left the residence.
By the time Tess arrived at her room, she was mortified at her own actions. Camden Town was doing things to her. She thought about what Alfie had said earlier in the week. That "no one wanted a proper woman." She knew he meant in the bedroom, but seeing it was completely different. Her mind flashed to him on the sofa with that woman and Tess groaned as her core gave a twinge of longing. She turned onto her side and squeezed her thighs together.
"No one would know." Alfie's seductive voice echoed in her mind.
Slowly she moved her hand across her stomach and loosened her thighs, pausing just before she reached her pubic bone.
Tess shook her head and gave a harsh sigh, "I would know." She said to herself before she stood and ventured out of her room for a walk and some air.