Lady Tilley Arnold is Benedict's new love interest on 'Bridgerton' season 3 — here's what to know about her, and if she's in the books

Season three of "Bridgerton" introduces Benedict Bridgerton's new love interest, a widow named Lady Tilley Arnold. Here's what to know about her.

• "Bridgerton" season three introduces a new character named Lady Tilley Arnold.
• The flirtatious widow is a love interest for Benedict, the second-oldest Bridgerton sibling.
• Lady Tilley Arnold isn't part of the "Bridgerton" book series and was created for the TV show. 

Warning: There are major spoilers ahead for season three, part one of "Bridgerton" and the third Bridgerton book, "An Offer from a Gentleman."

Benedict Bridgerton has a new love interest on season three of "Bridgerton" — a widow named Lady Tilley Arnold who's in no rush to remarry but is enjoying the company of the titular family's second-born sibling.

The first four episodes of season three, released on Thursday, introduce viewers to a couple of fresh characters that shake up the dynamics in Mayfair. Among them is Tilley (Hannah New), who immediately has an effortless banter with Benedict (Luke Thompson) upon crossing paths during episode three.

Fans eager to find out what will happen between Benedict and Tilley won't find answers in Julia Quinn's "Bridgerton" novels, though, because she doesn't exist in them. Here's everything to know about the character, and what Benedict's future holds in the books.

Lady Tilley Arnold doesn't appear in Julia Quinn's Bridgerton book series

Lady Tilley Arnold isn't part of Quinn's novels, meaning she was created specifically for the show.

When New's casting on the show was reported, Tilley was described as a "firebrand widow."

"Widowed at an early age, she enjoys the privileges and power that come with being at the helm of her former husband's estate, living life on her own terms with financial independence and sexual freedom," Deadline reported.

Benedict meets Tilley for the first time during episode three at Lord Hawkins' hot-air balloon demonstration. While trying to escape a mother eager to set him up with her daughter, Benedict runs into a tent where Lord Hawkins is explaining the engineering that makes flight possible in the hot-air balloon.

Tilley is the only woman in the tent and unlike the skeptical men around her, she's interested in hearing more about Hawkins' ingenuity and forward-thinking — which catches Benedict's attention.

At Lord and Lady Hawkins' Innovations Ball that night, Benedict sees Tilley admiring a statue and properly introduces himself. But she already knows who she is and was impressed by his heroism earlier when he helped stop the loose hot-air balloon from causing chaos at the demonstration. They flirt, and Tilley reveals that she's a widow.

"I have had seasons to mourn and I am in no hurry to find another husband, so you do not need to fear me plotting to ensnare you," she tells him before they dance together in the ballroom.

Then at the start of episode four, Benedict visits Tilley's home with a bouquet. Tilley cuts to the chase and tells him she has no interest in being called on, so they head to her bedroom.

During episode four, they continue flirting at Queen Charlotte's (Golda Rosheuvel) ball and are last shown in Tilley's bed together.

Does Benedict Bridgerton end up marrying Lady Tilley Arnold?

Even though Benedict seems to have found a new romance, he probably won't end up with Tilley. Most likely, she'll only be pertinent to his development on this season of "Bridgerton" (similar to Eloise Bridgerton's brief bond with Theo Sharpe during season two).

Those familiar with Quinn's novels know that Benedict's love story is at the center of the third book, "An Offer from a Gentleman." In the novel, Benedict marries a woman named Sophie Beckett and they have four children together.

A fourth season of "Bridgerton" is already confirmed to be in the works and showrunner Jess Brownell recently told TV Insider that season three's conclusion will give some hints as to which Bridgerton sibling's story will get the spotlight next. Perhaps fans won't have to wait too long for Benedict to meet his future wife.

Part one of season three of "Bridgerton" is now streaming on Netflix. Part two will be released on June 13.