Lucie took a step backwards and tried to maintain her composure. It wasn't easy, this was the second time she had been stunned into speechlessness in the past two days. But the young woman appeared completely unfazed by the introduction. Instead, she smiled warmly and took Lucie by the hand. "I am so very happy to meet you," she said, "I truly hope we shall become good friends."
Lucie looked at the young woman, then at Sydney, then back at the young woman.
"I – Likewise," she stammered, more out of confusion than anything else. The girl smiled again. Lucie looked at Sydney, hoping for some sort of clue as to what to think, but Sydney simply smiled at his bride. Lucie stared at them both for a moment, before she realized she should say something more. "I apologize," she said with a curtsey, "I am just extremely surprised."
"Of course," the young woman responded. "We are married only four days, it is quite understandable." She looked at Lucie and did not wait for a further invitation, but came forward and kissed her on the cheek. "I am certain we shall always be dear to each other," Annette declared.
Lucie continued to stare in amazement. It did not faze Annette.
"I do hope you will excuse me, but I should very much like to speak with your husband, the Marquis St. Ev-" she stopped herself. "Pardonnes moi," she excused herself. "I meant Mister Darnay, of course." She looked at Sydney who looked at her with a smile of approval. Lucie guessed they must have discussed this between themselves prior.
"You wish to see Charles?" Lucie asked. She knew her utter bewilderment was showing and she was slightly embarrassed at being so confused.
"Oui," the young woman answered. "I am very anxious to see him again. When we met at la Force he was very kind to me."
"You were in la Force?" Lucie asked in amazement. This young woman was so young, so full of life, and so pretty – it seemed almost beyond comprehension that she could have been imprisoned just as Charles and Sydney had been. And yet…
"Sydney can explain that," Annette said with a curtsey. "Excuse me," she said as she left to find Charles. Lucie stared after her in amazement.
"Annette was set to be executed with me," Sydney explained, coming up to Lucie's side. "We were rescued together.
"Mr. Carton," she paused – it seemed ridiculous to call him that after everything. "Sydney," she corrected herself. He nodded. "I don't quite understand…you - you married?"
"Indeed. To the most adorable girl in the world," he looked after her proudly.
"She is indeed very lovely," Lucie said honestly. The young woman seemed beautiful and bright, and Sydney clearly adored her. "But is this not rather sudden?" Lucie could not quite comprehend what had happened. Sydney Carton not only alive, but married... and married to such a sweet, happy little thing. She did not understand it. She remembered Sydney's intended sacrifice for her and for Charles and for little Lucie... and yet that all seemed to be the furthest thing from his mind now. It made no sense to her. She struggled to understand just what had happened, and how it had happened so quickly.
"Perhaps," Sydney replied, "but what can I say? I finally met the one girl who I knew would love me until the end of the world... is it any wonder I wanted to make her my wife as quickly as possible?"
Lucie felt a pang at that.
"But – how did this happen? I'm sorry, Sydney, but I just never thought…"
"You never thought you'd ever see Sydney Carton the married man?" he suggested. Lucie didn't respond. "Well, to be perfectly honest, I never expected it either. But it did happen. And as I said, it all happened just as it was meant to." Lucie watched him in amazement. He seemed so different from the man she remembered. It was as if his entire outlook on life had changed completely.
She had always suspected that Sydney could live a much better life than he had... and if she was completely honest with herself she was a little jealous to see that although her prediction had proved right, she had not been the one to make it happen. It was this young French girl - this Annette - who had done it.
"I am very happy for you," she said. "Truly."
"Thank you," he answered, with a look of true appreciation and love on his face. Yes, she understood, he did still love her. That had not changed. But she was no longer the object of his affections now. That role had been taken by someone else. She was not quite sure how she felt about that.