What Bridgerton Season 3 Following the Books Means For Francesca

'[Bridgerton Season 3] is really special and it stays very true to the books' — actress Nicola Coughlan, who plays Bridgerton's Penelope Featherington, revealed to People, and fans of Julia Quinn's books cheered to the news.

For one, that means that Pen and Colin's romance will be just as touching and steamy as in the original books, but what's more, it could signal the start of a solo arc for another beloved character the show has largely overlooked so far.

Francesca Bridgerton, who will be played by Hannah Dodd beginning in Season 3, is the sixth of the Bridgerton siblings and the third daughter. In the upcoming season, the character is supposed to turn 18, which is a set debutante age for the women of the ton. If the plot of the show follows the books, as Coughlan promised, it means a pretty exciting development for Francesca.

Beware of further spoilers!

Readers of Julia Quinn know that before she gets to her main love story, which is the sixth book, When He Was Wicked, Francesca marries for love during her very first social season and is sadly widowed. Her first husband is John Stirling, Earl of Kilmartin. The story is complicated by John's cousin and best friend, Michael, who meets Francesca just before her wedding and falls in love on the spot.

However, he keeps it very respectable, and Francesca, John, and Michael basically become best friends who hang out together until tragedy strikes two years into the marriage. After John dies unexpectedly, leaving his wife and best friend devastated, the earldom goes to Michael, who feels guilty for taking the title and things that belonged to John while still being in love with his widow. Michael runs away to India for four years, and when he returns, his relationship with Francesca finally takes a turn, which is the focus of When He Was Wicked.

The sixth novel in the series is a favorite of many Quinn fans, and people are eager to see the story begin in Bridgerton Season 3, which is when Francesca is set to make her debut and meet John in one of the episodes. But that is still up in the air.

Since Bridgerton has only been renewed through Season 4, the showrunners may not want to start a storyline they can't finish in two seasons, which means that Francesca's story might be put on hold until Bridgerton is renewed for at least two more installments. Plot-wise, the writers could make her younger in the show or make her debut a year later like her older sisters.

Source: People.