Bridgerton’s Francesca Love Story Explained: What Happens to John Stirling?

The first part of the third season of Bridgerton has been released on Netflix, and yet another wedding season is full of trouble for this family. Violet Bridgerton is still hoping someone can charm Eloise – after last year's scandal, the girl is struggling to join the company of potential brides.

And this time, the Bridgertons are introducing a new debutante – the reserved and humble Francesca.

Season 3 Puts Francesca in the Spotlight

A girl who is passionate about music has a hard time communicating with gentlemen. But history shows that you can find a soul mate even if you don't like to talk. This is another interesting plot device – Francesca has been in the background for the last two seasons.

However, as soon as John Stirling, Francesca's apparent love interest, appeared on the screen, all fan discussions were filled with comments sympathetic to this character, hinting at some kind of tragedy.

Apparently, we won't get a separate season dedicated to Francesca for a few years, so if you're impatient and want to know what fate awaits Francesca and John, here's what happens in the original Julia Quinn books.

Be warned: the following text contains major spoilers!

Francesca Is Not Destined to Live Happily Ever After with John

Francesca's story is told in the book When He Was Wicked. She is the only Bridgerton who managed to marry twice.

The story begins with Francesca happily married to the 8th Earl of Kilmartin, John Stirling – he is rich, noble, handsome and loves his wife madly. The Earl has a cousin, Michael Sterling, who is his complete opposite. A bachelor and a womanizer, he is a frequent visitor to the Kilmartin house.

Two years after their wedding, John suddenly dies. At the same time, Francesca is found to be pregnant, but loses the child due to grief. The title of the Duke passes to Michael, who has been secretly in love with Francesca all these years. To assuage the intensity of his feelings, he goes to India for four years, leaving Francesca to manage the estate.

After Much Hesitation, Francesca Decides to Get Married Again

Upon his return, Michael discovers that love has not died, but has grown stronger. Jealousy is added when Francesca decides to find a new husband. Michael loses his composure and kisses Francesca, who, horrified by the intimacy with her late husband's brother, flees to Scotland. But Michael doesn't give up and follows her – he proposes several times, but she can't make up her mind.

Francesca's fate is finally decided by a letter in which she learns that Colin and Eloise have found their life partners. Francesca missed two weddings at once and is a little jealous of Colin's happiness and Eloise's unexpected marriage. This pushes her to agree to marry Michael Stirling, the new Earl of Kilmartin.