"I'm going to England," Florian repeated. "I leave tomorrow morning."
"Have you discussed this with Ray?" Solomon asked, trying to think of a way to convince Florian to remain in Paris. Ray would not be happy to return home and find Florian gone.
"I left him a letter." Florian touched Solomon's hand, leaning in to try to make him understand. "I can't stay here. The rumors were bad enough when I was living with Ray. If it gets out that I'm living in a hotel…. You can imagine how that might appear." Florian pulled away looking defeated in a way Solomon had never seen before. "I'm tired of being the subject of speculation and ridicule, always feeling like an insect under a microscope. England will be a fresh start."
"Where will you stay? What will you do there?" Solomon asked.
"I'll be staying with Noel and his father for a few weeks. After that…" Florian shrugged, "I don't know."
"When will you come back?" Solomon asked, although he suspected the answer he received.
"I don't know." Florian shook his head.
"Is there anything I can do to convince you to stay?" Solomon dreaded the thought of both this city and his dear black cat without Florian's presence. He didn't know exactly when their casual acquaintance had deepened into friendship, but it hurt him to see Florian in so much pain.
"I'm not leaving because of you or Ray," Florian reached out and took Solomon's hand, holding it lightly. The connection seemed to calm him, but he wouldn't be deterred. "A beggar girl not much older than Noel came to the kitchen door begging for scraps. Ray told me to send her away, but I invited her into the kitchen and asked the cook to give her a meal. While she was eating, I went to tell Ray what I'd done. When I returned to the kitchen the girl was struggling with Laila. She'd tried to steal some silverware and Laila caught her. I didn't know the girl had a knife until she'd tried to cut Laila. The wound was superficial, but the girl managed to knock Laila down. Laila hit her head when she fell and was unconscious for a few minutes. Ray was furious."
"What happened to the girl?" Solomon asked, suspecting that he already knew the answer.
"Ray turned her over to the police. After Laila was tended to, he called me to his office and told me that I couldn't remain in his home because he couldn't trust me." Florian's tone was oddly flat as he related the events, but they turned sharp as he admitted, "He was right. I can't be trusted not to make the same mistakes, so I'm leaving before I hurt anyone else."
"You couldn't have known," Solomon placed his other hand over Florian's trying to offer comfort and reassurance.
"Ray knew. Time and again I've ignored his warnings and put him, you, and others in danger. I can't seem to learn. It didn't matter when I was just the Rochefort heir, but the stakes are higher with Ray and I can't trust myself to stay." Florian laughed, a harsh sound that made Solomon flinch. "I thought about traveling and working my way across France, but I have no skills to offer, and I'd never manage as a laborer. I thought it might help me earn back Ray's trust if I could pay my own way rather than accept this charity."
"It's not charity, Florian. You contribute as much as everyone else in Ray's household." Solomon gave his hand a squeeze, trying desperately to make him see what was so clear to Solomon. "He's kinder and more patient because of you."
"No," Florian told Solomon, "Ray has always been kind and patient. You're just close enough to see it now. That's why I'm asking for a favor. I want you to be his friend when he returns. He'd never admit it, but he gets lonely."
"Then don't stay away too long. Go to England. Do what you need to and come home to him. To us."
"If I can," Florian replied, and Solomon knew it was the only assurance Florian would offer.
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