After losing Leonor Rivera, Jose Rizal entertained the thought of pursuing other women or often entered casual relationships (admiration and immediately leaving them after an art dedication). During his stay in Biarritz, France, he had befriended two of his host, Eduardo Boustead’s daughters. Jose Rizal used to fence with the sisters at Juan Luna’s studio. Antonio Luna was also a frequent visitor of the Boustead Household since he’s courting Nellie Boustead, but Nellie has a deeper infatuation with Jose Rizal than Antonio Luna. In a party held by Filipinos in Madrid, Spain, a drunken Antonio Luna uttered unsavory remarks against Nellie Boustead, prompting Rizal to challenge Juan Luna to a fencing duel.
Fortunately, Juan Luna apologized to Rizal, averting the tragedy for the two compatriots. Nellie Boustead and Jose Rizal’s love affair unfortunately did not end in marriage, it failed because Jose Rizal refused to be converted to Protestantism as Nellie wanted and Nellie’s mother did not like Rizal for being a Physician who doesn’t pay well. They eventually parted as good friends when Jose Rizal left Europe.