Or several steps, in this case.
Not all of The Twelve are going to be overt/known associates or operatives. Blakeney going over Frogside to rescue the Dauphin and win the favour of the Prince Regent is going to happen parallel to some other actions.
There are a few hints as to what might or might not be going on, as well as 'Browning' not necessarily being entirely honest in his description of what was going on in 2077; rather, he was telling the story that would be more understood or accepted by 1790s Englishmen.
Even the year 2077 has some resonance to it.