I stared at him. “I’m sure they do not have any big cats on the premises.”

“Alligator?”

“Do you even have those in England?”

“Well, no, but . . . here, at least let me go first so if there is something, I can die like a good fiancé, trying to save you,” he said.

Oh, I did love this man. I stepped aside. He took out his phone and put the light on. It felt very Nancy Drew to find a secret passageway into the castle. Then again, it might not be a secret passageway, but I didn’t want to quibble with my imagination.

“Stay close,” he said.

I pressed up against his back as he pulled the door open. It didn’t creak but opened smoothly as if it was frequently used. Huh. He shone the light inside, and we discovered a clean tunnel with a light switch set into the wall beside the door. I flicked it on and wall sconces flickered to life, lighting the entire length of the passageway.

“Is it wrong that this disappoints?” I asked.

“No,” he said. “I was hoping for something dark and dank myself. This seems like a well-used shortcut for the staff.”

“I’m sure no one will mind if we use it now,” I said. Harry put his phone away and took my hand. The tunnel was just wide enough for us to walk side by side.

“Do you suppose this was an old smuggler’s tunnel?” I asked. “Someone importing brandy into the castle? Or maybe an escape route for a man of the cloth fleeing religious persecution?”

“Could be any of those things,” he said. “I’m sure someone at the castle can tell us.”

The passageway ended at a flight of stairs. We exchanged a look. Should we? Shouldn’t we? I shrugged. We’d come this far.

I began the trek up the steep stone steps. There was no handrail, so I stayed close to the wall. I could feel Harry behind me. It didn’t occur to me until we reached the landing that we had no idea where the door opened up to, if the door opened at all. It could be locked. My hands started to sweat.

I reached for the door handle and it turned. Phew! I didn’t want to walk all the way back and around the exterior of the castle. The door opened into a room, and I poked my head around it to see where we’d landed.

A severe-looking man was standing in front of the door with his arms folded over his chest and a frown marring his face. At least, I assumed he was frowning. It was hard to tell behind the bushy red beard.