So what you're telling me is that it's no new experience to be slapped heartily on both cheeks. Good to know.

She tilted her head and didn't bother to even attempt to camouflage her assessing glance, "I find myself decidedly unoffended, Major Sharpe." And no, she didn't really mind that it wasn't a word. Her tone matched that edge of cheek. "However, the new experience may be something you'd wish to look into."

"It's not so bad," she added quietly, looking down, "if you look at this as a chance to discover and experience things you wouldn't have otherwise."

Like arack for instance, and on that note she lifted and drained what remained of that liquor in her glass.