Red Lotus by Catherine Airlie Page B

what was going on behind those eyes baffled Felicity, at least.
    Conchita was half child, half woman, she supposed. She was at that awkward stage of growing up where every reprimand is a slight, every harsh word a heartbreak. She
     
    could also fall so easily in love. So easily and so tempestuously!
    Looking at her sitting there in the sunshine, covering her slim brown legs with the wide folds of her white skirt, Felicity could not make up her mind whether Conchita was already in love or not.
    And suddenly Conchita did not seem to matter so much. For her eyes had turned towards Philip where he sat at Isabella de Barrios' feet, contentedly munching brown bread and tomatoes, his blue eyes on the distant sea.
    She had never seen him like this before, and somehow she knew that she would never have done so if Isabella had not driven down to the Playa in her black Mercedes to picnic with the children in the sun.

CHAPTER IV
    AN ADMISSION OF GUILT?
     
    ON the way back to San Lozaro Philip seemed strangely elated.
    "You have had a good day's business," Conchita said. "I know by your face!"
    In spite of her laughter, Felicity felt that there was something personal about Conchita's question. Was she about to ask a favour of Philip and felt that this might be the most propitious time, when he had successfully pulled off a business deal to his own advantage? Conchita was capable of any wile when she wanted something passionately, something which she felt that she could not do without.
    Philip smiled.
    "True, Conchita," he said, "but what is it you want me to do for you?"
    He appeared to be in too mellow a mood to sound cynical or annoyed, but evidently he knew Conchita.
    "I want you to let me go to Zamora for the fiesta."
    "I have told you that there is plenty of time to make plans for the fiesta." His voice was more stern now. "We may all go," he conceded.
    Conchita drew in a deep, resentful breath.
    "Because there is no work to be done! Because you will be forced to grant the holiday to the people on the plantation," she accused. "But that is all. One day! You are a slave-driver, Philip. Julio says so, and I am sure he is right!"
    "Maybe so," Philip agreed with what, to Conchita in her present mood, must have been maddening equanimity, "but I have to see that the plantations pay. That has always been my job."
    "And now you will not let us do as we wish!" Conchita pouted. "You are our guardian and we must obey you!
     
    But I have always gone to Zamora for more than one day in the past," she added stubbornly.
    Sitting behind them with Sisa by her side, Felicity saw Philip's jaw harden. She knew then that he had no intention of letting Conchita have her way. There was some reason why he did not wish her to spend the next two weeks at Zamora, a sound reason, she supposed, because everything about Philip was sound.
    When they came to a fork in the road the Mercedes was drawn up under the eucalyptus trees which lined a long avenue stretching to the west.
    "Will you come in for a drink?" Isabella called. "You
    said you were not going to work anymore to-day, Philip."
    In the split second which followed the impulsive invitation, Felicity saw Philip hesitate.
    "We are quite alone," Isabella informed him. "I shall even promise you tea!"
    Philip turned from the wheel. His face was expressionless.
    "Felicity will like that," he decided, "and she really ought to see Zamora."
    Instinctively Felicity wanted to protest, but it would have been too foolish in the circumstances. What could she have said? I don't want to come because this is dangerous ground. Philip has already refused to let Conchita stay at Zamora, but now he will come because Rafael isn't there!
    She drew in her breath and said nothing, and the two cars made their way, one after the other, down the avenue, the giant trees on either side shutting them into a green tunnel of rustling leaves. Soon they had passed under an arched gateway in a high stucco wall which surrounded one of the