Trust his valet to shed a positive light on thefaux pas. Then again, it might just work.
After preparing for the day, Joseph made his way to the dining room and the welcome scent of coffee and breakfast. Several other guests were at the table, including Sinclair. The sideboard held all manner of offerings, and Joseph made his selections before joining Sinclair.
The weather was fine once again with the morning sun shining through the tall windows.
“Care for a ride this morning?” Sinclair asked. “Martin was here earlier and mentioned several others are venturing out after breakfast. Apparently, his father is an early riser and will be riding as well.”
“I’d like that.” Joseph made a mental note to rise earlier tomorrow morning to see if he could catch Mr. Melbourne when fewer guests were about.
The coffee and breakfast served to wake him fully, and he walked with Sinclair to the stables where several horses had been saddled and were ready for guests.
It didn’t appear as if any of the ladies were joining them. Luckily, there was no sign of Henderson either.
Soon the group of men, including Martin and his father, were riding across the fields for a tour of the estate. The fresh air was invigorating and the view even more so.
Joseph enjoyed looking at other properties with an eye for improving his family’s holdings. However, his hands were tied from implementing any improvements until he inherited since his father had little interest in changing things.
“What crops are grown at your estate?” Mr. Melbourne asked when Joseph happened to ride alongside him.
“Wheat for the most part, though with prices down, that has been less profitable.” The worry weighed on Joseph as it didn’t show any signs of improving.
“Frustrating, isn’t it?” Melbourne frowned, staring at the horizon. “While I think it’s fortunate that food is becoming more affordable for the masses, it makes it less economical to continue to cultivate crops that can be shipped to England more cheaply than we can grow them here.”
The comment gave Joseph hope that Melbourne might be interested in his proposal. From what he could see, landowners needed to make adjustments or risk losing money for the foreseeable future.
If he could learn more about Melbourne’s interests, he could adjust his proposal to better appeal to him. A few more days in his company should provide ample time for that.
After the ride, they arrived back at the house and many of the men gathered in the billiard room once again. When Joseph and Sinclair walked in, Reverend Henderson was speaking to several others in a tone that sounded suspiciously like a sermon.
“God helps those who help themselves,” Henderson said with a nod. “It is clear that providing handouts to the less fortunate only encourages them not to work.”
Joseph gritted his teeth, having heard portions of the same ridiculous ideas from his father. It grated on him when lending a helping hand to those in need had previously been something they agreed on.
“Hmm.” Sinclair stopped a short distance from where Henderson stood speaking. “I’m not sure I can agree with the reverend,” he whispered.
“Nor can I.” Joseph shook his head. “I’ve met Henderson on several occasions and can only say that I tend to disagree with much of what he says.”
“Oh?”
“He agrees with Herbert Spencer’s ideas about survival of the fittest and thinks England will benefit from allowing those who can’t manage to make a living to be left to their own devices.”
Sinclair stared at Joseph in dismay. “As in starve?”
“If that is what happens.”
“What sort of Christian attitude is that?” Sinclair asked.
“Not one I have interest in adhering to.”
“Surely, Melbourne doesn’t agree,” Sinclair said. “He is well known for his philanthropy.”
“I hope he doesn’t. But I’m certain the reverend intends to try to change his mind over the course of the week. No doubt he’d like to receive a donation to his church.”
“For what purpose if he doesn’t believe in aiding others?” Sinclair’s outrage eased Joseph’s mind.
After the frustrating conversations with his father, he had started to worry that he was the only one who didn’t see any logic in Henderson’s message.
“Excellent question,” Joseph said. “One to which I have yet to hear a straight answer.”