Once upon a Nursery Rhyme

Grand Old Duke of York

The grand old Duke of York
He had 10,000 men
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And he marched them down again
When they were up they were up
And when they were down they were down
And when they were only half way up
They were neither up nor down

I poured myself a large glass of wine and curled up on the sofa with Clara's note book, I had almost finished reading it and as far as I could tell I had no clue as to where she was, I was going to have to give it some thought,  but for now I had some reading to do.

It's strange but I was almost happy to be back there again, so far it doesn't seem to have affected Connie, I would like to speak to the Duke of York,  I've been told he is an amateur scientist and as such he might be able to help.

I really don't want to continue disappearing as Connie grows up, it would be unfair on both of us, I would be beside myself if she was left home alone because I disappeared,thankfully she is with me as I appear and disappear also at least while she is this young she is unaware of what is going on.

The future is frightening, but Mrs Hugebert has been most helpful, she told me anytime I would like to explore or just have time alone she is more than happy to care for little Connie,  she is quite taken with her, at least that way I would know she was safe, if that last village is anything to go by, very unsociable,  I don't want Connie near there again, It frightened me more than I care to admit.

I took a gulp of wine 'oh no, you didn't leave Connie with Mrs Hugebert did you?'

I muttered at Clara's portrait, then smiled sheepishly, 'good job Henry isn't here, he'd have me straight in an institution for talking to a painting'

Then I shook my head, 'surely You didn't,  wouldn't Mother Hugebert still have Connie ? Or would she? Would Connie have returned on her own, leaving her mother behind? A bit like we did with Bert, but then surely Mother Hugebert would have mentioned it, but there again, she may have assumed the Clara had returned picked up Connie and gone again without stopping,'

I would have to be more specific next time I saw Mother Hugebert,  I continued to read

Mother Hugebert wasn't at home when I called or I would have left Connie behind, it is not easy climbing  a large hill with a 6 month old baby and you are out of practice, I felt completely out of shape, I must get back to the gym I decided as I plodded up the hill.

About half way to the top I saw what appeared to be a battalion on men marching towards me, initially I thought I was imagining it. Then I spotted the person leading them, he did have the look of a nutty professor, I had been told that the Duke of York did have such an appearance.

"Company halt" he commanded, when he saw me, he rode over, his horse was magnificent, a dappled grey, anyway he looked me up and down and obviously decided I was not dangerous, slightly dotty to be halfway up a mountain  with a baby but not dangerous, so

"Company make camp"

The first thing to go up was his tent, well it was more up market than your average tent, even I would go camping in this tent.

"Do come inside, m'lady, take a seat, tea?" He enquired, he was a real gentleman.

It was surreal sitting in a tent halfway up a mountain drinking tea with a Duke. He was quite absent minded, he told me in confidence,  he had no idea what to do with a battalion of soldiers, he wasn't really a military man, but he said