"Since Christmas," Helena admits, having set down her own spoon in favor of holding her own hands. "I know we should have spoken to you sooner, but between their recovery and the restaurant and everything else..."

A tiny pause.

"I know it is perhaps old-fashioned of me, but, belated as it is, I've come to ask you for your blessing. And to answer whatever questions you have. We've agreed to this being quite a ways in the future, after all."

There's time enough to hear every doubt he might have, everything he needs to know or wants to know. They're not going to run out the door and come back with it all settled - Helena would never agree to something so impromptu. And for Darcy's sake, she's not mentioning that she thought it had been discussed before they had made their move.