When He Was Wicked follows the story of Michael Stirling as he struggles to deal with his unrequited feelings for his cousin’s widow, Francesca Bridgerton. Having loved Francesca for years, he struggles to deal with his feelings for her now that she is no longer married. Unable to do so, and an unwilling to take his cousin’s position as Lord of the house, he runs away to India to bury his feelings.
Similarly, Francesca deals with grief and mourns the loss of her spouse, yet she desperately wants a family of her own and knows she has to move on. This puts her and Michael at odds when he returns, as he still loves her and cannot bear to see her with anyone else.
Whilst Michael’s feelings have long been established, it is interesting to see Francesca respond to him in a romantic way, after simply being friends with him for so long. It fosters the idea that all relationships begin with a good friendship before anything romantic can be pursued. Indeed, by the end, Francesca and Michael are able to fulfill their love story, highlighting how through struggles and tribulations, true love is possible.
