Bridgerton Season 4 was bittersweet, to say the least, largely because of the death of Francesca’s husband, John Stirling. The show didn’t give many details about John's unexpected death—we just saw him take a nap, only to seemingly pass away in his sleep. But if you’re looking for answers, the book has them.
In an author’s note at the end of When He Was Wicked, Julia Quinn writes that when researching John’s condition, she had to ensure “disease processes made scientific sense, while at the same time revealing only what was known by medical science in 1824 England.”
She then confirms that “John died of a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. Cerebral aneurysms are congenital weak spots in the walls of blood vessels within the brain. They may lie dormant for many years or they may rapidly enlarge and then rupture, leading the bleeding in the brain, which can be followed by unconsciousness, coma, and death. Headaches brought on by ruptured cerebral aneurysms are sudden and explosive but can be proceeded by a lingering headache for some time prior to the actual rupture.”
Quinn adds, “Nothing could have been done to save him” and that due to the unlikelihood of John having an autopsy, “John’s death would have remained a mystery to those who loved him. All Francesca would ever know was that her husband had a headache, lay down, and died.”
Truly so sad! But obviously John’s passing ultimately paves the way for Francesca’s other love story, which is potentially coming up next season?
