The Bridgertons series might be one of my favorite series EVER! I truly adore these books!When He Was Wicked is right up there as one of my favorites. I always thought it odd that we didn't get to know Francesca. We heard odd bits about her having married a Scottish lord and living in Scotland. But her personality and her presence were sorely lacking. Until this book...While I appreciate how Ms. Quinn attempts to integrate Francesca into the story, some of the events seem contrived. Such as when we learn her 1st husband, John, died in their London house. Wouldn't we have known that earlier? Each Bridgerton has his or her own personality, and Francesca is no different -- she's the most private and pensive of the bunch.My heart broke for Michael when he realized he loved Frannie. And when her husband died and all that followed, I couldn't help but empathize with the way he acted. It might seem callous and cruel, but it made perfect sense to me that he ran away... to India... for 4 years. And we see and the book progresses that he did attempt to communicate with Francesca through his letters from India. But she couldn't bring herself to reply.I could also understand how/why Francesca would find it difficult to want a husband again. And how/why she would expect not to love that man - certainly not as she loved John. It's one of those books where it's heartbreakingly clear to everyone BUT the hero and heroine that they belong together. And when they finally do get together, you wonder if it can last, since they're both still so caught up in not wanting to dishonor one another or John's memory.I also was relieved and over-joyed at Frannie's talk with her mother about what her mother, Violet, went through when she lost Frannie's father, Edward. And shocked, as Francesca was that none of her children had ever thought to ask her what that was like.But I so enjoyed Michael's wickedness. *grin* It was a delightful turn of events to finally have a woman who's not a virgin be the object of affection. Frannie's a widow; she's already known intimacy with her 1st husband. But it's fun to read that every love is different... that intimacy is different with a different love.I laughed, I cried, I ached, I longed... and I happily enjoyed the book the entire way through!
