marching up the hill to the house. The back of her dress was covered in grass and muck. He really had shoved her into a dung pile. He unclenched his fist and winced. He looked at his hands, scratched and bloody from the horns of the ram. âIâd never seen anyone do that with a charging ram, McDonald.â âOne of the workers had to stop a ram from charging him once. It looks easier than it is.â âYou need a brandy and someone to look after those hands.â âBrandy sounds good.â Now that his anger had faded, he felt as weak as a baby. âThank you for saving her. I couldnât have gotten to her fast enough. Come up to the house. Weâll see to your hands.â Ian followed Tony into the house, hiding his still trembling hands in his pockets. * * * Sophia walked awkwardly toward the house, the muck on her skirts causing them to stick together. The smell was even worse. She couldnât decide if she was going to gag or cry or both. Never had she been so humiliated. She pulled at the back of her dress, trying to move it away from her body. Juliet and a maid were waiting in the doorway, watching her approach. âYou are covered in mud. What happened?â asked Juliet. âItâs not mud and donât ask.â She wasnât in the mood to talk about it yet. Her emotions bounced between fear and admiration for Mr. McDonald, something she didnât want to feel. She wanted to hold on to her anger. It was the only thing keeping her from throwing herself at the man. Heâd rescued her. He had put himself between that stupid sheep and her. Heâd taken that creature by the horns and kept her safe. No one had ever done anything so heroic for her. Sheâd had no idea he was so strong. Men had fawned over her. Sophia knew it, and had manipulated those men over the years. She liked being the center of their attentions. She liked their flattery. It fed her vanity. Vanity was a sin, she knew that, but still it felt good to be admired. But not one man had ever done something heroic for her. Now she was forced to look at Mr. McDonald in an entirely new light and she didnât like it one bit. âYou smell awful.â Sophia groaned. Ian had seen her covered in sheep dung. âIan shoved me behind him and I slipped.â âWhat were you doing in the pasture?â Juliet asked. âYou knew Ian was here for mating season.â âWhy would I know about the mating patterns of sheep? I was in a hurry, so I cut across the pasture. Iâve done it before.â Sophia slipped off her shoes and handed them to the maid. âThese are ruined.â âIâm sure we can get them cleaned up. Why werenât you wearing your half boots?â Juliet took a rag from the maid and wiped at Sophiaâs cheek. âI had to escape the house, Juliet. It was awful.â Sophia took the rag from her sister and wiped her hands. âI didnât stop to think. Our guests arrived and Lord Bateman brought a lady with him. Heâs going to marry her. This is all my fault.â âI doubt that. Come upstairs. Iâll have a bath prepared and find a change of clothes,â Sophia followed Juliet to one of the spare rooms where soon a hip bath was set up. Water steamed from the bath. Sophia almost groaned. She couldnât wait to get the muck off her. âNow tell me all. Who is this mysterious lady? And why this is your fault,â Juliet said once they were alone. âMiss Hamilton is her name. I met her in London.â Sophia turned her back to allow Juliet to unbutton her gown. She peeled it off, leaving it in a heap on the floor. âLady Catherine couldnât wait to get in a taunt about Lord Batemanâs intentions.â Juliet loosened the laces of Sophiaâs stays. âMiss Hamilton? I donât remember her when we were last in Town.â âShe is the daughter of a wealthy merchant. The rumor