“I see.”

“Come with me, please.”

Though her trust was in short supply, she mustered her courage and stepped into the hall. The guard led the way while the porter retrieved two of her suitcases.

Questions and doubts plagued her. What if this was all part of an elaborate scheme to kidnap her or worse? How could she know for sure her escort was really someone who could be trusted?

She headed for the stairs leading to the lower deck, but the guard continued forward and led her outside.

Apparently sensing her confusion, he said, “The sailboat rides too high in the water to board from below.”

Trapped between obligation and fear, she followed him onto the deck, stopping three feet from the starboard railing. Though the sailboat’s deck was several meters below where she stood, she was able see the three people on board. To her surprise, she recognized two of them. Prince Garrett and Princess Janessa.

Her guard motioned to the metal ladder bolted to the side of the yacht. “I’m sorry, Princess, but I’m afraid the only way to get you onto their boat is for you to climb.”

A new panic clawed through her, her fear of heights rising steadily. She watched a seaman attach a rope to the first of her suitcases and lower it down to the sailboat while the porter went below deck to retrieve the rest of her luggage. One by one, all four of her bags were transferred.

“It’s your turn, Your Highness.” Her guard held out a bright-yellow harness. “You’ll need to put this on so we can attach the safety line while you climb down.”

She could do this, she assured herself. She had to do this. She took the offered vest and slipped it on, clipping the front and ensuring the straps were pulled tight.

“Ready?”

Cassie drew a deep breath and blew it out, then took small steps to approach the railing before gripping it tightly.

In her mind, she chastised herself for her childish fear of heights, but she still couldn’t keep her heart from racing or her palms from sweating. The sailboat was only three meters below her, but it might as well have been a hundred.

She tried to look down at her intended destination, but immediately, her eyes darted up and over the water. Several seconds passed as she gathered her courage. Muffled voices carried from below, followed by a shout from an unfamiliar voice. “Wait a minute.”

Relief poured through her, no less dramatic than if she had been in front of a firing squad and had been given a stay of execution.

A dark-haired man appeared in front of her, both hands on the railing beside hers, his feet on the ladder.

“Look at me,” he said with a quiet authority. “I’ll be right here with you. We’ll go one step at a time.”

Mortified that she hadn’t been able to hide her fear, she lifted her chin. “Fine.”

Apparently unaware that gravity could plummet him down onto the boat below, he reached out his right hand and gripped her left arm. “You can do it.”