"does this mean they were let down while he was still at the door"
I thought your idea very amusing, but then again I can well understand Lady R. if she wished to escape unnoticed.

I bet it was a veritable ordeal to have once appearance scrutinized by such an exacting connaisseur, eh? It wasn't true when Elizabeth B. thought Mr Darcy only looked at her to find a blemish. But I'm sure sir Walter kept track of every freckle, red nose, tiny fault and wrinkle in his facial surrounding.
And he would not be pleased for how and where could he admire his reflection properly? The windows were covered and the mirrors and teaspoons barely visible in the dark.;-}