Bertha Russell’s Gilded Age Secret Could Destroy 2 Families and Her Marriage
A dangerous birth in England
Bertha travels to England as Gladys goes into labor. The baby is in a breech position, and Gladys’s doctor warns Hector, Duke of Buckingham, that he may have to choose between saving his wife and the child. Lady Sarah Vere argues for the unborn heir, while Bertha urges Hector to protect Gladys.
Hector agrees with Bertha, but no choice is ultimately needed. Gladys gives birth to a healthy boy, the Marquess of Sidmouth. Soon after, a severe hemorrhage leads the doctor to perform an emergency hysterectomy, meaning Gladys will not be able to conceive again.
A secret with family consequences
For now, only Bertha and Hector know about the hysterectomy. Bertha asks the Duke to wait before telling Gladys, so she can enjoy becoming a mother. But the article says the British aristocracy expects a duchess to produce a spare heir, as well as a male heir, and warns that failing to do so could bring scandal and damage the Buckinghams’ reputation.
Bertha’s concern for her daughter is mixed with a desire to protect the Russells from possible fallout. She has only recently repaired her relationship with Gladys, who may see the concealment as another betrayal if she learns the truth. Hector appears guilt-ridden and may soon tell his wife.
George and Bertha’s fragile marriage
Bertha and George are already separated. He has moved out of their home and is staying at the Union Club, after Bertha arranged Gladys’s marriage to Hector without George’s consent. George had promised his daughter she could marry for love, and he blames Bertha’s actions for breaking that promise.
George sees Bertha as someone who puts strategy ahead of family. If he discovers she hid Gladys’s condition, he may view it as further evidence of the behavior that drove him away. He may also doubt that Bertha had no knowledge of or influence over the hysterectomy before it happened. The article suggests their marriage could end in divorce.
Key points
- Gladys gives birth to a healthy son but cannot have more children after an emergency hysterectomy.
- Bertha and Hector are the only ones who know about Gladys’s hysterectomy.
- The Buckingham family could face scandal if Gladys cannot provide a spare heir.
- George’s distrust of Bertha could worsen if he learns she kept the secret.