"I realized that I don't belong in that world anymore. I don't fit in. Not that I ever really had before, you know. It's why I left in the first place. Had a ship built and decided to set sail on the high seas." Perhaps he had been an idiot for that, with dreams of grandeur of becoming a famous pirate.
"But," he went on, taking a moment to set his tea cup and saucer back down so that his hands weren't occupied, "mostly what I realized is... well, how I feel for you. I don't think I'd known, truly, what it was I felt until Mary told me what being in love feels like."
Stede paused then and gave a nervous glance to Ed. "Perhaps I shouldn't be bringing this up right now, but you did- you said that I have your heart. It's worth noting, then, that you have mine, as well."