On the Way to the Wedding

The eighth and final installment in Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series of Regency-era romance novels, the story opens with a prologue in which Gregory Bridgerton sprints through the streets of London toward St. George's Church, bursts through the doors, and begs a bride not to marry. He declares his love before the entire congregation and drops to one knee, but the scene cuts off before the bride answers. The narrative then jumps back two months.

Gregory is the youngest son of the late Viscount Bridgerton. He believes in true love because all seven of his older siblings have married happily, and he is certain that when he meets the right woman, he will simply know. He has no profession and no direction, a source of frustration for his eldest brother Anthony, the current Viscount Bridgerton. Gregory deflects Anthony's pressure by announcing he will join the clergy and insists he will only wed for love. He arrives late to a house party at Aubrey Hall, the family's country estate in Kent, hosted by Anthony and his wife Kate.

At the outdoor gathering, Gregory sees a young woman from behind and is instantly transfixed. He approaches and meets Miss Hermione Watson, a legendary beauty, and her best friend, Lady Lucinda Abernathy, known as Lucy. Gregory is smitten with Hermione. Lucy, attractive but perpetually overshadowed by her friend, recognizes the signs of yet another man falling for Hermione. Lucy is practically engaged to Lord Haselby, a match arranged by her uncle and guardian, Robert Abernathy, who has raised Lucy and her brother Richard, the young Earl of Fennsworth, since their father's death.

Over refreshments, Lucy informs Gregory that Hermione is in love with Mr. Edmonds, her father's penniless secretary. Gregory is dismayed but undeterred. Lucy privately resolves to steer Hermione toward Gregory, whom she considers a far better match. Over the following days, Gregory tries to charm Hermione, but she remains disinterested. Lucy observes that he is pursuing Hermione the same way every other suitor has and advises him to withdraw for a few days. The strategy fails: Hermione does not notice his absence at all.

Furious, Gregory corners Lucy in the darkened library. Their conversation turns deeper: Gregory describes love as all-consuming, beyond choice or control. Lucy finds this unsettling and recalls that Hermione described falling for Mr. Edmonds in identical terms, seeing just the back of his head and knowing instantly. Gregory is shaken to realize Hermione's experience mirrors his own. As they stand in the dim room, he finds himself wondering what it would be like to kiss Lucy, and is disturbed by the thought.

The next morning, Gregory abandons his earnest approach and draws Hermione into natural, humorous conversation. She later tells Lucy he is "rather amusing." Meanwhile, Gregory and Lucy share an unexpectedly intimate conversation about family and loneliness, deepening their bond. Lucy's brother Richard arrives with a summons: Uncle Robert wants her home because the marriage to Haselby is to be finalized immediately. Kate invites Richard to stay for the masked ball, and he agrees, partly because he is drawn to Hermione.

At the ball, Gregory impulsively asks Lucy to dance. Their waltz is electrifying, perfectly synchronized and breathless. Lucy later mentions that Hermione went off with Richard some time ago. Gregory grows alarmed, and together with Kate they search the house. They find Hermione in the orangery, disheveled and tearful, confessing she felt a genuine romantic stirring for Richard. Kate declares the pair engaged on the spot.

Gregory retreats to process the loss and discovers he is more cross than heartbroken, suspecting his feelings for Hermione were never as deep as he believed. He encounters Lucy in a dark corridor, and in the charged quiet of the hallway, he kisses her. Lucy responds with equal intensity before pulling away, reminding him she is engaged. The next morning, Hermione tells Lucy that with Richard she felt a comfortable, natural love. Lucy realizes this description matches what she feels with Gregory and admits to herself she is in love with him. Before Lucy departs, Gregory apologizes for the kiss. She tells him her engagement is finalized and walks away feeling her heart break.

One month later, Lucy is in London preparing for her wedding, kept virtually sequestered by Uncle Robert. Gregory returns to London and encounters Lucy in Hyde Park. He is shocked to learn she is marrying Haselby, because he knows something she does not: Haselby does not like women romantically and will never be a true husband to her. He arranges through his mother, Violet Bridgerton, and his sister Daphne, the Duchess of Hastings, for Lucy to attend a ball the following evening.

At the ball, Gregory sees a woman from behind and feels the same overwhelming recognition he once felt for Hermione. When she turns around, it is Lucy. The revelation crashes over him: He loves her and has loved her without realizing it. He asks her to dance. His younger sister Hyacinth, sharp-tongued and perceptive, deduces his feelings and orchestrates a private meeting. Alone, Gregory reveals the truth about Haselby and declares his love. Lucy admits she loves him too, and he proposes. She accepts, resolving to speak with her uncle.

Uncle Robert reveals why she must marry Haselby: Lucy's late father allegedly sold state secrets to the French, and Lord Davenport, Haselby's father, possesses proof. The marriage is the final payment in years of blackmail. If Lucy refuses, Davenport will expose the treason, and Richard will lose his title, fortune, and reputation. Robert adds that Davenport intends to impregnate Lucy himself if Haselby cannot produce an heir. Unable to sacrifice her brother's happiness, Lucy agrees to proceed and refuses Gregory's calls.

On the eve of the wedding, Gregory sneaks into her house and pleads with her to flee. She refuses, insisting on behaving with honor. They make love, Lucy's deliberate choice. They agree on a hand signal if she needs help, but the next morning Lucy emerges in her wedding dress and does not signal. Gregory runs toward the church.

At St. George's, the prologue scene plays out in full. Gregory bursts in, declares his love, and drops to one knee. Lucy, bound by her secret, whispers that she cannot. Chaos erupts. After order is restored, Lucy finishes the ceremony and marries Haselby. Gregory is dragged from the church but realizes Lucy's refusal stems from coercion, not choice. He jumps from his mother's carriage and runs back.

At the reception, Gregory finds Lucy in her bedchamber. She reveals everything: the treason, the blackmail, the threat to Richard. Gregory ties her to a fixture to prevent her return and assembles a crisis meeting with Richard, Hermione, and Haselby. Haselby agrees to an annulment. Richard insists their father was no traitor and suspects Uncle Robert fabricated the evidence. The group concludes Uncle Robert is the actual traitor who framed his dead brother.

When Gregory returns for Lucy, she is gone. Uncle Robert has dragged her at knifepoint to his bedchamber. In a tense standoff, Gregory deduces the truth and forces Uncle Robert to reveal himself. Richard, Hermione, Haselby, and Davenport burst in. Uncle Robert fires wildly, and Gregory shoots him in the shoulder, hitting his mark for the first time in his life. Lucy is unharmed, and her father's memory is untainted. Haselby proceeds with the annulment, Gregory silences Davenport by noting that concealing treason makes him equally culpable, and Richard orders Uncle Robert to leave the country.

The epilogue spans years as Gregory and Lucy raise a growing family. After their seventh child, Gregory declares they must stop, but Lucy becomes pregnant again. The eighth delivery produces a surprise: twins, bringing the total to nine. Love exists, Gregory reflects. It is grand. Nine times grand.