Hidden Devotion (Trinity Masters #5)(23)

They drank the first glasses too quickly, and when the second glasses were poured, he was able to focus on the reason he was here. “I made a list of questions.”

“Very logical.”

“But I think I would rather have you tell me the story.”

“What story?”

“Your story. You know all my stuff. I want to know what it was like growing up in a secret society.”

Juliette stiffened, enough that he knew his request either frightened or irritated her.

“My story is not a good example. How about I tell the story of your family—at least as much of the story as I know?”

He was in no position to question her, but something about her reaction to him asking about her life raised that same protective urge he’d felt at the museum when Devon showed up. “That’s fair.”

She settled into the corner of the couch, propping one elbow along the back. “Your great-grandfather was the son of General Garcia.”

“You know that for sure?”

“No, but the photos, along with the last name and the fact that he was targeted for membership, makes that the most logical assumption.”

“I’ll accept that.”

“Pedro Garcia Fernandez immigrated to the US in 1900 when he was only sixteen. He spent a year living in a hotel owned by a member of the Trinity Masters.”

“Not exactly the normal accommodations for a young man just arrived from Cuba.”

“And in 1901, Pedro came here, to Boston, and was inducted into the Trinity Masters. That I know for sure.”

Franco shook his head ruefully. “He was only seventeen and had already had a far more interesting life than I could dream of.”

“I don’t know about that. I’d say this past week your life has been fairly interesting.”

“Can’t argue with that. So what happened to Pedro after he joined?”

“He fought in World War One—there’s a copy of his service record in the file I have.”

“Teasing me again.”

“You’ll be disappointed, because there’s a lull in the records until 1920, when he was called to the altar.”

“Called to the altar?”

“That’s when the Grand Master summons members to be married.”

“Arranged marriages.” It was both a statement and a question.

Juliette raised an eyebrow. “I assume you know about the Trinity Masters’ marriages?”

“Yes, those were always the craziest of the stories my grandfather told. He always claimed that was why he married so late in life. He was waiting to get his two wives from the secret society.”

“We need to come back to that, because I have some questions for you about your grandfather, but let me finish with your great-grandfather’s story first. In 1920 he married Maria Cruz, the daughter of a prominent family who was herself recruited in 1919, and Lucille Smith, a Trinity Masters’ legacy who lost both her husbands in the war.”

Franco set his glass down very carefully. “I’m sorry, you said he married a woman named Maria, and then a woman named Lucille?”

“Not ‘and then’. I thought you said you knew about the Trinity Masters’ marriages?”

“I thought… I assumed Grandfather made it up…”

Juliette touched her necklace and the three-point Celtic knot symbol. “Members of the Trinity Masters have arranged ménage marriages.”





Chapter Seven




“Ménage marriages.” Franco stared at Juliette, trying to decide if she was joking.

“Yes.”

“I…wait. Lucille Smith was a family friend.”

“Not quite. Your grandfather’s best friend, Henry Smith, was actually your great-uncle. He was your grandfather’s half-brother.”

Franco picked up his glass and drained it. “Grandfather always referred to him as his brother but I assumed that was a term of endearment, not literal.”

“Members learn to hide the truth about their marriages.”

Franco whistled. “I assumed that part was just a story.”

“No, the arranged marriages are very real.” Her tone was half-rueful, half-resigned.

“Have you…are you married?”

“No. Not yet.”

“Have you picked your, uh, partners yet?”

“Picked?” Juliette raised both brows.

“Oh, right, arranged. Forgot about that. The uh, what did you say, Grand Master? That’s who picks?”

“Yes.”

“And you don’t know who it will be until you’re at the altar?”

“You get a month to get to know your trinity before the official ceremony.”

“And what if you don’t like them?”

“It’s not a matter of ‘like’. The Grand Master creates the trinities based on the skills and potential of each person—for example, a research doctor, college dean and hospital administrator are a strong trinity.”

“I’m having trouble believing that the kind of people who are members—smart, driven, successful—all just meekly submit to these arranged marriages.”

“It’s what they signed up for. The arranged marriage is the price you pay for the advantages the Trinity Masters will give you.”