Tides of deception ✺ Outlander/Stephen Bonnet Fanfic

♤18. Blackbeards letter

Maria stepped out of the cabin, the faint creak of the door drowned out by the soft sounds of the crew unloading the ship at port. The briny air of London mingled with the smell of wet wood, and for the first time in weeks, solid land stretched beyond the horizon. The ship had finally arrived. She shielded her eyes from the gray sunlight, taking in the busy dock with its vendors, bustling crowds, and the occasional noblewoman strolling with her parasol.

Her heart lifted with a sense of relief as she anticipated their next step-meeting Mr. Bird, the inventor. She was prepared to help Stephen secure their place in society with the co-invention of the sextant. With her knowledge, they were on the verge of something grand. Yet, as her eyes scanned the dock, she spotted Stephen amidst the crowds.

Her breath caught in her throat.

He was standing near the gangway, striking and charming as ever, but not alone. A woman in an elegant gown, her hat adorned with lace, stood close to him. Her soft laugh, musical and flirtatious, floated up to where Maria stood frozen in place. Stephen was smiling that same roguish smile, the one that had once been reserved just for her. His posture was relaxed, arms casually crossed, but his eyes-those intense, piercing eyes-were on the woman. His hand grazed the lady's wrist, a fleeting touch, but one that spoke volumes.

Maria's stomach churned, and a familiar heat rushed through her. She watched as Stephen tilted his head slightly, leaning in just enough to whisper something in the woman's ear, causing her to blush and giggle. The woman's gloved hand fluttered up to touch his arm, and for a moment, it was as though Maria didn't exist in his world.

A deep ache spread in her chest. The scene before her was jarring-a reminder of the Stephen Bonnet who was once a charming, unpredictable pirate, capable of manipulating hearts with ease. Is that all I am to him too? she thought, her hands tightening into fists at her sides. The joy of arriving in London quickly soured into confusion and betrayal, though she fought to keep those emotions at bay. She had seen Stephen flirt before, it has to be something innocent again. But he had called her his, and yet here he was, lavishing his attention on another woman with the same charm and ease that had made her fall for him.

Turning sharply, Maria hurried back to the cabin, her heart thudding in her chest. She didn't want to dwell on what she had seen-it was probably nothing. After all, she had more important things to focus on. She was determined to prepare for their meeting with Mr. Bird, to solidify their future. But despite her best efforts, the image of Stephen's smile directed at someone else burned in her mind.

Inside the cabin, the familiar scent of sea salt and Stephen's cologne wrapped around her like a cloak, but it brought no comfort. She approached his desk, where the papers and sketches for the sextant lay scattered. Her fingers brushed over the parchment where she had drawn the intricate measurements, recalling every detail of the design from memory. She knew these diagrams like the back of her hand. They were her escape, her contribution to their future-something no one could take from her.

But as she shuffled through the papers, her fingers brushed against something unusual. An envelope, worn at the edges, tucked beneath the sketches. Maria frowned. She didn't recognize it and her curiosity piqued. Slowly, she unfolded the parchment, her eyes scanning the top for any indication of who it was from.

Her breath hitched. Blackbeard.

The name alone sent a chill down her spine. Blackbeard was a name that struck fear into even the most hardened sailors, Stephen had told her of his ruthlessness. He used to be part of his crew in the past. but why did Stephen have a letter from him?

She quickly skimmed the contents, her pulse quickening with every word. As the meaning of the letter became clear, Maria felt like the ground had been ripped from beneath her. Blackbeard owed Stephen a favor-a favor that involved her. The words etched into the letter cut through her like a dagger: