So this is set about a week after the last chapter.

"Has Florian not come down for breakfast this morning?" Josie questioned as she entered the dining room to see Florian's seat empty again and Agnes sitting with her breakfast in front of her, the younger woman shaking her head as Miss Mardle glanced across at the door again. Over the last week she'd seen Florian less and less, with him very rarely coming down to eat and she was starting to get concerned. "I'll just go and see whether he is okay," she responded before exiting the room and standing at the bottom of the stairs. She knew that he was trying to avoid her and it probably wasn't her best idea, being the one to see whether he wanted breakfast, but she was concerned about him and she wanted things to get back to normal. Walking up the stairs slowly, she approached his room before shutting her eyes for a second and knocking.

"Come in," the familiar voice responded before she opened it slowly and stepped inside to see him sat on the bed with his violin. "Miss Mardle," he said in shock before standing up nervously, a shy look covering both their faces as they watched each for a moment in silence. He hadn't expected her to come. Agnes he could understand but having Miss Mardle in his room was a surprise, he'd expected her to stay as far away as she could.

"Agnes and I were wondering whether you were going to join us for breakfast today," she said quietly, playing with the sleeves of her dress as he watched her for a moment, not knowing what to say. "We've missed you and we're worried, you've hardly eaten anything this week," she explained as she moved towards him, concern covering her face as she stood in front of him. "I know that things are difficult, especially between us, but that's no reason to miss meals and to avoid Agnes," Miss Mardle explained as he glanced down at his feet before nodding and walking past the older woman and approaching the door. "Florian…" she began.

"You want to forget, so let's just forget everything," he stated before he walked out of the room, the sound of him walking down the stairs making her shut her eyes. She'd clearly lost his friendship as well when she'd refused him. Leaving his room in silence a few moments later, she shut the door before walking down the stairs and approaching the dining room door to hear Florian and Agnes talking.

"Victor was wondering whether you'd like to go out for a drink with him tonight," she heard Agnes admit as she hovered by the doorway, trying to work out whether she could face joining them.

"Mr Colleano wants me to go drinking with him?" Florian responded as Josie smiled to herself. It was the first time that someone had asked him somewhere without inviting Agnes or Miss Mardle along as well. "Are you sure?" the Belgian asked as Miss Mardle continued to smile to herself, taking in how shocked he sounded. He needed to get out of the house more and meet new people, he couldn't his whole time in London trapped inside her home. "If he's happy with me going, I would like that," Florian declared as Agnes laughed.

"Of course he's happy with it Florian, it was his idea after all," Agnes replied as Miss Mardle stepped away and grabbed her coat, pulling it on as she approached the front door. She could do with going to work early and getting a head start.

XOXOXOXOXO

"Agnes told me that things are awkward at home at the moment," Victor commented as he sat at the table with the other man in the crowded pub, the two men holding onto their drinks as Florian laughed at the comment, finally realising why he had been invited out that evening. "Anything you want to get off your chest?" he asked quickly as he brought his drink to his lips, his eyebrows rising as he glanced across at Florian who was staring down at his glass.

"Women," he stated quickly as Victor smiled.

"Any particular woman? Or just women in general?" Victor questioned as Florian took a large sip of his drink, needing the courage that the alcohol would bring. "I promise, I won't tell Agnes anything you say. It can stay between us, no one will learn anything from me," he added quickly, knowing that was probably part of the reason why Florian wasn't talking to anyone. Watching him take another mouthful of his drink, Victor smiled as Florian sighed and looked across at the other man.

"One particular woman," he said quietly as Victor nodded. "There's this woman, she's the most perfect person I've ever met, she's kind and when she smiles…" he began, thinking about Miss Mardle for a moment as he fell silent while Victor continued to watch and listen to the other man. "I know she feels something but she seems against the whole idea. She'd rather ignore everything she feels and be miserable and alone than agree to let anything happen between us," he explained before shaking his head and finishing his drink. "She wants to forget everything, that I don't love…" he began before shaking his head, knowing that he had already said too much.

"And where did you meet this woman Florian?" Victor questioned, although he already had a suspicion on who the woman was.

"It doesn't matter, nothing will ever happen or change. She doesn't think a relationship is appropriate, and I don't want to lose her. Even if there's never a relationship, I still get to see her and enjoy her company, and see her smile," Florian declared before standing up. "Would you like another drink Victor?" he asked as Victor shook his head and watched as Florian moved towards the bar.

XOXOXOXOXOXO

Lying on her bed in silence, Josie sighed as she stared up at the ceiling before shutting her eyes and forcing herself to relax. Her brain kept wondering about where Florian was and whether he was okay, even Agnes had been surprised, when they'd decided to go to their rooms earlier, that the two men hadn't returned. Hearing the front door open and the sound of footsteps and people walking into various things, Josie quickly sat up before grabbing her robe and throwing it over her nightdress, tightening it around her body as she left the room. Running down the stairs, Josie stared at Victor and Agnes as they propped Florian up at the bottom of the steps.

"Oh god," Josie whispered as she ran down the rest of the steps and pressed her hands to Florian's cheeks, the younger man barely keeping his eyes open as she looked up at Victor. "How much did you drink tonight?" she asked as Victor shook, unaware of how much Florian had actually consumed over the evening as Miss Mardle stepped away, not even thinking about how she was in her nightclothes in front of a colleague. "Take him upstairs," she ordered as Victor nodded, practically carrying Florian up the stairs while Miss Mardle watched with Agnes.

"He'll be fine in the morning," Agnes smiled as she approached the older woman who was still watching as Victor practically dragged Florian upstairs. "He'll have a headache and will feel stupid for his behaviour but he'll be fine," she explained as Josie nodded, turning to look at the other woman as a small smile covered her face at the comforting words. Agnes always knew what to say. Hearing Victor on the stairs again, Josie smiled before excusing herself and walking up the stairs quickly towards Florian's room. Pushing the door open, Josie sighed as she opened the door to see Florian lying on his bed, almost asleep and looking completely uncomfortable.

"You silly boy," she whispered angrily as she walked towards him and knelt down beside the bed, her hand brushing against his cheek as he opened his eyes and stared at her for a moment. "You go out for a drink and end up practically unconscious Florian," she muttered as he continued to watch her. "I'll see you in the morning, get some sleep," she whispered before standing up, stopping however when he grabbed her hand. "Florian it's late and I'm tired."

"You're so beautiful," he commented as she shook her head at him.

"Stop. Stop this please," she begged as she sat down on the edge of his bed, his hand still clutching hers. "Good night Mr Dupont, I'll get someone to bring you water in the morning," she explained, removing her hand from his before she walked out of his room, shutting the door behind her and shutting her eyes. She couldn't keep doing this, she couldn't keep hovering on the line of surrendering to him. She had to remain strong because in the end, it would not work.

XOXOXOXOXO

"My head," Florian moaned as he covered his eyes with his hand and groaned, resting back against the pillows before someone knocked gently on the door. "Come in," he said quietly before the door opened and Miss Mardle appeared nervously in the doorway. "I'm sorry," he immediately stated as she watched him in complete silence. "I didn't think I drank as much as I must have done," he explained, clearly embarrassed as she stepped closer with the glass of water.

"Water," she whispered, passing it to him as he thanked her and took the glass from her.

"Thank you," he responded before he looked up at her, dressed in her work clothes with her hair pinned back perfectly. It was a completely different image to the woman he remembered seeing the previous evening, knelt beside his bed with her hair flowing all over the place and a concerned look on her face. "I'm sorry for last night, I clearly need to remember my limits. I've never done that before and I'm sorry," he explained before taking a sip of the cool water while she watched him in silence. "I'm sorry for what I did, for embarrassing you and for keeping you awake last night."

"It was nothing. It's none of my business when you stay out till," Miss Mardle commented before moving back towards the door. "Breakfast is being served Mr Dupont, if you feel like joining us," she commented before leaving the room, the Belgian watching her leave in complete silence.

He was losing her, he was losing the one woman that he cared about.

I detest this chapter. I really do hate it. Please let me know what you think, I love knowing your thoughts and thank you to those who have reviewed, followed and favorited this story. It means the world to me.