"Ooh...haven't you read about Maud Karpeles, Ruth/Joan...I reckon Cecil had a twinkle in his eye you know!"
Having been in conversation with an academic who HAS done research into Sharp and other collectors the other day, and hearing about reported conversations on the subject the suggestion is that the relationship between the two of them was of the father/daughter type.... I don't pretend to be an expert myself. So what is the cited reference you have that would support your rather flimsy theory, Lizzie?