“That’s a shame. Will you be long?”

A curious spasm of emotion flashed across his face as he cleared his throat. “Not long, no.”

Gillian beamed at him. “Excellent. I have a little procedure I’d like to try on you.”

Noble seemed to be having some difficulty swallowing. His hands clenched and unclenched as he cleared his throat again. “I’m sure it will be most appreciated.”

Gillian nodded and withdrew back into his bedchamber. She sat on the bed and reached for the pamphlet, then looked up as Noble shot through the door. He was across the room, his dressing gown removed en route, before her fingers could close around the pamphlet.

“Noble!” she shrieked as he pulled her into a passionate embrace. “My lord, your arm…”

“The merest of flesh wounds, I assure you, my darling,” he said, his lips caressing her temples.

She looked down at that part of him that was pressing against her. “Husband, we couldn’t possibly. You have been injured.”

Noble murmured hot, passionate words in her ear, sending delightful little shivers of pleasure rippling down her spine and forming a hot pool at the very center of her womanhood.

“I have…your organs…celestial…Oils of Araby, Noble…stimulation…”

“Oh, yes, my love, it’s very stimulating. Allow me to show you how very stimulating it can be.”

Gillian, with an effort she didn’t think possible, tore herself from her husband’s arms and seductive, mesmerizing mouth.

“You are wounded, Noble. I cannot allow you to endanger your life by harming that wound.”

Noble smiled at her, a smile that started fires all over her body. God’s elbows, how was she to maintain any sort of control over the situation if her Lord of Smoldering Eyes was going to look at her with an obvious hunger that only she could feed?

She reached behind her, grabbed her pamphlet, and held it in front of his face.

“The Celestial Stimulation of the Organs, Noble. I thought we might, given the circumstances of your injury, use the special Oils of Araby and balmy, ethereal essences to restore your elasticity and good health.”

Noble’s smile increased in intensity, fanning the fire in Gillian’s body into a raging inferno. She reminded herself sternly that he was hurt and knew not what he was doing, what with his being out of his head with pain, and it was up to her to ensure that he did no further damage to himself.

She stepped away from him and waved the pamphlet toward the bed. “If you would lie down, husband, I will prepare the essences. They have to be warmed slightly, so as not to cause a shock to your system when they are administered. Once I have massaged the essences into your flesh, I am to apply the Oils of Araby to ensure that the humors are in balance. At which point—” Gillian consulted the pamphlet. She couldn’t meet that look in his eyes without throwing herself on him. Shameful, that’s what she was, wanton and shameful to think of engaging in such pleasurable activities while her husband was suffering so grievously. “At which point, I am to pay particular attention to those…er…parts of you so as to regain youth and vigor to your bodily endowments.”