Selina did not feel particularly serene at the moment considering she felt quite like a gazelle whose predator was ever closing in right behind her, where she couldn't look. Julia had to be looking and, if she wasn't careful, about to find her and deem this gentleman inappropriate to talk to for one reason or another. there was always something with Julia, things had to be just so. Although, Selina pondered, speaking to a man who wasn't Mr. Malcolm was quite what Julia intended for her to do at any gathering both Selina and Malcolm were present at. She was to be the unattainable, therefore most desirable.
Not for the first nor certainly the last time, Selina wondered if participating in the remainder of the season was worth all this. Selina curtsied slightly back to Mr. Parker as he introduced himself. "Selina Dalton, Mr. Parker, lovely to make your acquaintance."
And when she shifted to look where she'd come from, eyes widened expecting Julia to come bounding up, she found only the dance floor. Mr. Parker came to stand beside her and Selina thought this was enough for now.
"I- the dancing is lovely, yes." She replied, looking sheepish. She had no reason not to be dancing, unless of course she wasn't desirable by any man present or Julia found excuses to bar her from dancing with anyone who asked. "I thought perhaps I ought to take a little rest."
She did not say what from. "What about you, Mr. Parker, how are you enjoying the ball?"