The Gilded Age Season 3: Bertha’s Secret Enemy Revealed

August 4, 2025

4

Warning: SPOILERS For The Gilded Age Season 3, Episode 7 – “Ex-Communicated.”

The Gilded Age season 3 introduced a secretive new enemy to Bertha Russell, and now episode 7 has finally revealed their identity. Bertha faced several challenges in The Gilded Age season 3, both from outside forces and within her own marriage, creating plenty of drama for Carrie Coon’s character.

As Bertha’s conflict with her husband, George Russell, intensified throughout The Gilded Age season 3, her family’s secrets consistently appeared in the newspapers. Luckily, the Russells’ staff have been tireless in their desire to find Bertha’s new enemy, and episode 7 has finally revealed who the leak is and why they sold the Russells’ secrets.

Bertha’s Secret Enemy In The Gilded Age Season 3 Was Her New Lady’s Maid

Miss André Was Selling The Russells’ Secrets

Bertha Russell has had enemies before in The Gilded Age, but typically, they have been people she can see and make a plan to defeat. From beating Mrs. Astor in the opera war in season 2, to helping Gladys outsmart Lady Sarah in The Gilded Age season 3, episode 6, Bertha knows how to get what she wants.

In contrast, the unknown leak in The Gilded Age season 3 posed a challenge for Bertha and the rest of the Russell household because they had no idea who to fight. The leak was sharing very personal information with the newspapers, though, so it became clear that it was someone within the Russell household, ultimately revealed to be Miss André.

The Russell household staff eventually figured out that it had to be Bertha’s lady’s maid, Miss André, who was selling the family’s secrets. After following her to a meeting, Mr. Church, Mrs. Bruce, and Mr. Borden confronted Miss André, and she admitted to the betrayal, officially marking her exit from the Russells’ home.

Before leaving, though, Miss André shared why she chose to betray the Russells. The lady’s maid claimed that, despite liking Mrs. Russell and the staff, the money was too lucrative. She was paid $40 (over $1,300 today) each time she sold information, giving her a sizable nest egg for the trouble.

Bertha Was Betrayed By Her Lady’s Maid For A Second Time

Turner And André Both Went Behind Bertha’s Back

Miss André’s betrayal of Bertha and her family is undoubtedly disappointing for the Russell household, but this isn’t the first time Bertha has been betrayed. Miss André is now Bertha’s second lady’s maid to be fired for betraying her after Enid Turner did so in The Gilded Age season 1.

Turner was after money as well, but in a very different way. She hoped to seduce George Russell, gaining money and power at the same time. George and Bertha were a stronger team then, but the repeated betrayal of Bertha’s lady’s maids highlights the risks people are willing to take for a chance at money and power.

Turner is now Mrs. Enid Winterton after she married and moved up in New York society.

Perhaps Bertha and Mrs. Bruce’s vetting system for lady’s maid candidates is simply not great, but it does make the show more interesting. As with Turner in season 1, Bertha ultimately triumphed over her lady’s maid’s betrayal, but it is far from her only problem in The Gilded Age season 3, as Miss André’s revelations made public.