They slept for two more nights in the wigwam after the roof was complete, and on the first night Alice waited for the others to fall asleep, before quietly making her way over to Uncas. If she could not show him any affection by day, she would do it by night. She obtained a container of balm to rub over Uncas's blisters, and he awoke to find her stroking his hands and fingers with the balm. When she found him in a more wakeful state, she began to work her way up and massage his forearms, which she had noticed seemed to be achey after his work on the roof. He submitted to her attentions, easing his head back, and a look of complete relaxation came over his face. He closed his eyes and let her continue to ease his aching muscles. She eventually worked her way further up his arms and to his shoulders. He opened his eyes and saw that she now sat close enough that he could pull her down for a kiss. This was a dangerous decision as kissing had only ever led to one thing for them. But, tonight, they both realized this was all they could do without waking anyone. They yielded to the urge to press their lips together, but also yielded to the fact that this was as far as they could go. Uncas pressed his barely parted lips against hers, and she responded by laying down and pulling herself close to him. He licked her lips with the tip of his tongue and then gently used his tongue to part her lips. He entered her mouth slightly until his tongue found what it sought, and they mingled their tongues together languidly. They quietly enjoyed the taste of each other's mouths and lips until Alice felt her body begging for sleep and Uncas encouraged her to rest for both herself and their baby.

Before she made her way to her side of the wigwam, Uncas whispered, "Alice, what is so special about this bed you are sending over?"

"It will give you the most luxurious night of sleep."

"There is a great deal more luxury you are not sending here?"

"More than you could possibly imagine."

It was all theirs. Their ancestral home in Scotland, one of few to survive the Jacobite rebellion, as well as the estate in England. No male heirs stood in their way, and their father's will read such that they would each share equally in ownership. Alice and Cora could not bear to part with their home in Scotland, and there were resources enough to keep it running and pay staff to maintain it. However, it was the estate in England which held a great deal more monetary value.

"Tell me about your home in England," Uncas asked Alice while they took a break from working on the cabin.

"Why do you ask?"

"I want to know what you are giving up for me."

"It is nothing compared to what I am getting in return. It is not too far from London. There are endless acres for farming, hunting, and renting out to tenants. There are primeval forests, fields of wild flowers, rows and rows of plowed crops, freshly manicured lawns, ponds and lakes stocked yearly, and expertly landscaped gardens."

"And this grand house of yours?"

"Inside there are countless rooms. I honestly don't know how many there are. Three floors, not including the kitchen in the lower level. The ceilings are adorned with gold leaf and murals, the walls have an impressive collection of artwork by the greatest known artists of the day, and each room contains ornately carved furniture. There is a set of silver and china for each occasion and endless examples of silver and porcelain craftsmanship fill the shelves and tables in each room. There are servants to do everything for us, and a butler to oversee them. Then there is the library, a treasure to behold. I cannot fathom selling a single book, no matter the value of a first edition classic. "

"You would give all of that up to be with me?"

"Happily and without regret."

He was humbled that anyone could love him so much to leave behind a life so many others coveted.

Alice did not tell him everything about the library. After years of searching deviously for the key to a locked cabinet in this room, she finally found it shortly before leaving for London for the season. She had discovered this was where her father kept the "naughty," books, and while never having a chance to read them herself, she had stowed several away on their trip from England. They remained in her extra trunk, as she had meant to educate herself on certain things that tended to be unspoken of, but that turned out to be unnecessary, as she had found the most adept of teachers in Uncas. She still intended to read them someday, should there be anything else that she could teach him.

"Well, this explains a lot," said Uncas.

"What do you mean?"

"You're spoiled. That is why you never settle for anything less than what you want," he teased.

"I do not insist on having my way because I have always been given whatever I want. I am simply determined to do whatever it takes to have what I want. If I were spoiled, I would expect everything to just be handed to me, and to not have to put forth any effort to get what I want."

He looked at her with an impish grin.

"If you say so."

"I jumped off a ship to get what I want," she reminded him.

He stopped what he was doing and looked at her intensely.

"I know you did."

They had never talked about the real reason she did this, but he had come to realize it. He fought the urge to kiss her, but they were in sight of the others.

"So you plan to have all of the books sent soon and nothing else?" he said to change the subject back to something less stirring.

"Yes. I don't know where I am going to keep them all. Cora will likely have her favorite painting sent. It probably costs more than all of the books combined, but it will not take up so much room."

"You want none of the paintings?"

"They are mostly still lifes and portraits. Some battle scenes. I do not see the beauty in a painting of a bowl of fruit."

Uncas laughed quietly.

"What do you see beauty in?"

"Nature. The outdoors. I would rather look out the window than at a painting. I do like some landscapes, though."

Alice looked at him and thought she saw more beauty in Uncas than in anything else she had ever seen before.

"What do you see beauty in?"

"Much the same as you."

He looked around to ensure no one was watching and leaned over to whisper into her ear.

"And your naked body, with your legs open to me, and your arms reaching out for me to come and enter you."

Alice shivered at the thought. He had never spoken so candidly to her in the presence of others. Why could they not be alone right now? She changed the subject back to the estate.

The money from the sale of the estate and everything within would be more than Cora and Alice would ever need in their new life. Nor did Alice think Uncas or Nathaniel would ever except a contribution of any of the women's money for their living. Alice could not bare the thought of this money sitting without use, when there must be so much good with it she could do. At the very least she meant to ensure a comfortable living for her beloved butler, as well as for the rest of the servants who had honored her with faithfulness and the care of a loved one devoid of familial figures for so much of her life.

Apart from this, Alice maintained a small treasure of her own. She had read in a pamphlet before leaving England that there was very little coin to circulate in the colonies, and often times things such as tobacco leaves had to be used in lieu of money. Shortly before leaving, she had secured several bags of guineas and packed them full into hollow books in the trunk she had left in Albany. She had also taken many strands of jewels, accepted by her most unwillingly from her most fervent of unwanted suitors, and sewn them into her stays along the length of the whale bone. She did not know what to do with her treasure at hand, but she guarded it carefully, knowing it might someday be needed.

On the second night after the roof was complete; the last night Alice would spend in the wigwam, Uncas decided it was his turn to tend to Alice. She had worked hard all day to finish filling in more of the crevices of the walls, as well as to prepare meals and complete other tasks simultaneously. He went to her after everyone was asleep, and found her to still be awake as she had planned to repeat what she had done for him the night before.

"Uncas," she whispered, "go lay back down and I will massage you as I did last night."

"I will not be greedy, Alice. You have worked hard, too, and now it is your turn for attention."

She had been on her feet all day, and he thought she would appreciate some attention to that part of the body that so many men ignored. He had always loved her feet, and it was not a new experience for Alice when he took them into her hands and began to rub them. She loved it when he did this. But, this time they were not alone, and as Uncas and Alice had already found, there were parts of her feet he could rub which brought about arousal in other parts of her body, she knew she would have to try very hard to be quiet. He used his thumbs to gently press into the flesh of the soles of her feet, making sure not to neglect a single part. Her body writhed in pleasure and she began pressing her feet against his chest, running them up and down his body. This was driving him mad. He could not take it much longer. He lay down beside her and they spent the rest of the night kissing and holding one another as they had the night before. In time, Uncas knew it was time to return to his side of the wigwam. He gave her one final kiss and they lay down on opposite sides staring into one another's eyes. They fell asleep this way.

By the following night, the men had finished the windows and doors and the chinking and daubing was complete. Furs were brought in so Nathaniel, Cora and Alice could enjoy their first night in the cabin. Uncas had already started a fire in Alice's room so it would be warm by the time she was ready to go to bed. Alice took to the privacy of her new room with an uneasy sense of loneliness. She had grown accustomed to sleeping amongst others. She missed opening her eyes to see Uncas laying across from her. Nathaniel and Cora appreciated their privacy a great deal more, although Nathaniel still suffered from much confusion on wether he was pleasing his wife. Uncas and Chingachgook slept in the wigwam comfortably, but Uncas missed Alice's presence, and missed the many opportunities he no longer had to please her.

Uncas insisted on making a bed for Alice since her own would not arrive for two months, and the mother of his child would sleep as comfortably as possible every night, if he had anything to say about it.

"I see you are proceeding with making a bed," Nathaniel cautiously said to Uncas the day after they completed the cabin. "Can I assume that is for Alice?"

"Well, she doesn't have a husband to do it for her and someone has to do it," he said haughtily.

Uncas knew snow might further delay their ability to receive the beds, and Alice could have the baby before they arrived.

He looked up from where he sat carving wood in the main room of the cabin, and glared. Nathaniel took the hint that Uncas was in no mood to speak with him, but noted that he would now have to start on a bed for himself and Cora.

When the beds were complete days later and the mattresses and pillows stuffed, Alice managed to catch a moment of privacy to speak with Uncas.

"Will you come to me tonight? No one will hear you if you sneak in late, and we can enjoy my new bed together."

"They may not hear me, but they will eventually hear you," he said with a gentle smile.

"I am getting better about that."

Uncas hesitated, wanting nothing more than to come to her, but was conflicted on if they were to be found out.

"Uncas it has been a week since we have been together, and you promised you would do whatever it took to keep me satisfied."

He had promised her.

"Alright," he relented. "I will come to you tonight."

In the morning, Alice and Uncas awoke suddenly to a knock on her bedroom door.

The door began to slowly open and Uncas threw the bedcovers over his head.

"Alice?" said Cora. "Are you awake yet?"

Cora stepped carefully into the room to find Alice sitting up in bed with a look of panic on her face. Uncas's body sunk into the mattress, so his form could not be made out beneath the covers.

"Alice I wanted to talk to you about something."

Cora walked around to the side of the bed and sat down beside Alice. Uncas felt the weight of her body suddenly on top of him, the air being pushed up and out of his lungs. He held his breath and lay as still as possible so she could not feel the rise and fall of his abdomen with each breath.

"Alice, I did not realize your mattress was so firm. Do we need to remove some of the filling?"

"No thank you. It quite suits me," she said in an effort to hide her worried expression.

"Alice, I wanted to ask you about Uncas."

Alice turned to her nervously. Had they been found out?

"Nathaniel and I have noted that he seems increasingly fixated on you, and I wanted to make sure it did not make you feel ill at ease."

"I have not noticed," Alice replied innocently.

"And your own feelings for him have not returned?"

"No."

"I could have Nathaniel talk to him if he is making you uncomfortable-"

Cora grimaced and wiggled her behind a bit. Uncas fought hard to continue holding his breath.

"This mattress is rather lumpy," she stated as she felt around for more lumps other than the many well-defined abdominal muscles that she sat upon. "I could help you fluff it later if you would like."

"No, Cora, that won't be necessary. If you give me a few minutes to dress I will be out soon to help you with breakfast."

Cora nodded and took her leave. She still was not completely convinced that it would ever be safe to leave the two alone. He was still a red blooded man, and with no other women around, who knew if he would be able to control himself? She did not want her sister being taken advantage of. Once the door closed, Alice drew the blankets from over Uncas's head and he took in a deep breath with great relief.

"Did that really just happen?" he whispered to her.

She buried her face in a pillow.

"We cannot risk doing this again," he whispered to her reluctantly.

"Then when can we be together? And where?" She asked as she peeked out from behind the pillow in disappointment.

"I will think of something... Did I satisfy you last night?" he asked as he stroked the side of her face.

He had lost track of how many times she begged him for "one more time." He could never say no to her. She knew that all she needed to do was graze her finger tips along his inner thigh to put him into a physical state where he would be capable of fulfilling her request.

"Completely."

As autumn gave way to winter and the blanket of amber, orange and crimson leaves was replaced with fluffy white snow, the men spent most of their time building furniture or hunting, and the women spent theirs cooking, cleaning and preserving. Alice's belly grew slowly, but her dress hid it well for now. It was a simple life. A quiet life. Christmas approached and Alice was at a loss. There would be no parties, no singing, no festive decor. Uncas had never celebrated the holiday and she began to wonder if it was worth it. Was it just to be about feasting? She decided to forgo Christmas celebrations this year, and Cora agreed.

Alice had begun to take walks each afternoon for fresh air, and was unaccustomed to the ground and trees being so often covered with snow. It was as if she were stepping into a new world each time she went outside. The pure white snow that blanketed the ground and dappled the evergreens, the crunch of the flakes under her feet, the briskness of the breeze that chilled her nose, the pristine smell of the piney air, the profound silence of the wilderness once bustling with wildlife. It brought about a sense of peace and tranquility that she had never known from nature.

Each morning, Uncas disappeared on his own for a while with claims of hunting or trapping, sometimes returning with a rabbit or fowl. On one such day he came home with a bloodied shoulder, the fur he'd used for warmth in shreds.

"Uncas, what happened?" Alice cried out as she ran to examine his wound.

The others rushed to him with equal concern and Chingachgook helped him to remove his coat and shirt.

"Came across a pack of wolves. I think they are trying to claim some territory around here."

"I thought you said wolves rarely attack?" said Alice in horror.

"These ones are not shy and they are not afraid of people. Their pack leader was going for my throat, but I managed to dodge him in time and he barely grazed my shoulder. It looks worse than it is."

"You scare 'em off with your musket?" Nathaniel asked.

"Yeah." Uncas said shortly, still distant and cold with Nathaniel over the past month. "They'll be back, though."

Alice wrinkled her nose.

"Uncas, what is that terrible smell?"

"I also had the misfortune of crossing paths with a skunk on the way back. Got sprayed."

"Let us hope it has not seeped through to your skin yet," said Chingachgook. "Get those clothes off. They're no good for the next month."

Alice had not heard of a skunk before, but it sounded aggressive.

Uncas went outside into the frigid cold to remove the remainder of his clothes and left them in front of the house. His father brought him a change of clothes from the wigwam as he stood naked waiting, and after inspecting him to ensure his skin had not been tainted with the spray as well, allowed him to put his breechcloth back on. Uncas walked back into the house shivering and Alice quickly sat him down close to the fire, with a blanket wrapped around him. She pulled it down to inspect his shoulder wound, the same shoulder that had been previously injured.

"It doesn't look like his teeth punctured very deep, but Cora, I think he will need sutures."

Cora examined it and agreed. She went to hers and Nathaniel's bedroom for the catgut and needle, and Nathaniel followed. Alice did not care to consider what they must be discussing in there. Chingachgook had not returned yet, as he was hanging Uncases clothes to air out. It would take weeks for the stench to go away.

Alice was traumatized at the thought of Uncas almost being mauled by a pack of wolves, and what fate would have befallen him if he had not escaped the skunk? Her hand shook as she gently washed his wound.

"Alice, I am fine. You need to calm down. You are five months along now, and you need to stay calm for the baby."

She nodded and held back tears.

"Uncas, why do you go out there alone for hours each morning? I can't bear the thought of losing you."

"Well until we run those wolves out of here, nobody is going outside alone at all anymore."

Cora and Nathaniel returned with the sutures, and Cora began to sew him back together after Alice cleaned the wound. Alice watched with a pained expression as the sharp needle went in and out of his flesh. He never winced once. Cora tied the sutures off and wrapped a bandage.

"I need to get herbs from the root cellar for poultices," said Alice.

"I'll come with," said Uncas.

He looked at Cora and Nathaniel pointedly and stated, "I just got done telling her nobody can go outside alone, now. Not even to the root cellar or well."

Nathaniel looked at Cora and nodded in agreement. Uncas put a dry shirt on and picked up his already reloaded musket.

Once Alice and Uncas were out of sight near the root cellar, he placed his arms around her waist to comfort her.

She wrapped her arms around him and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Uncas?"

"Yes?" he asked as he placed a solitary kiss on her lips.

"How dangerous are skunks?"